BY BEN L. KAUFMAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Falling revenues have forced Hamilton County to cancel this year's community collections of household hazardous wastes -- despite their popularity. But there are alternatives.
In the past three years, residents brought in tons of paint, pesticides, batteries, and antifreeze that otherwise might have gone into sewers and landfills.
At various sites, a contractor's employees in moon suits unloaded the cars and trucks, sorted the wastes and recycled or sent them for disposal at a cost to the county Solid Waste District of $400,000 to $600,000 each year.
However, the collection has become a luxury.
When household hazardous waste collections began in 1995, there also was a budget surplus, district manager Karen Luken said Tuesday.
That surplus is gone. Coincidentally, revenues from tipping fees plummeted by $500,000 a year because less waste is being trucked into Hamilton County and dumped into the Rumpke sanitary landfill in Colerain Township.
Residents have dozens of free or low-cost alternatives where they can take most of their hazardous household wastes.
Whether they will is another question, Ms. Luken and consultant R.W. Beck conceded.
"Many of the permanent outlets are actually closer to people's homes than our one-day collection sites," Ms. Luken said. "We may actually see an increase in participation."
Fewer than 2 percent of the households in Hamilton County participated in each of the three annual collections, but that is higher than the national average for similar events, Ms. Luken said.
Also, Hamilton County residents brought in more stuff than the national average. Hamilton County residents can call the Solid Waste District hot line -- 333-4700 -- to find out about dozens of free or low-cost alternatives where they can take most of their hazardous household wastes.
