Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Mobile Hazardous Waste Collection Service will be in Montgomery County, Fayette County and Unicoi County on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Tennessee residents are encouraged to bring hazardous household waste — including cleaning fluids, pesticides, pool chemicals and more — to a designated drop-off location. A person does not have to reside in the county to participate.
The delivery points are:
Montgomery County – Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The contact person is Mary Anderson at 931.648.5751.
Fayette County – Fayette County Landfill, 11675 Hwy. 76, Somerville, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The contact is Terry Chambers at 901.465.5230.
Unicoi County – Unicoi County Hwy Garage, 125 North Industrial Drive, Erwin, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The contact is Garland Evely at 423.743.9391.
“We are pleased to offer this opportunity to properly dispose of hazardous household waste,” said Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers. “We want to make it as easy as possible for Tennessee residents to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment.”
Since the program began in 1993, more than 370,000 Tennessee homes have properly disposed of more than 24 million pounds of materials. There were over 1,450 one-day fundraisers.
Household hazardous waste is considered combustible, toxic, reactive and/or corrosive and should not be disposed of with regular waste. Typical disposal items include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, fluorescent lights, lithium and button batteries, aerosol cans, adhesives, medications, brake fluid, pool chemicals, paint thinner, and used needles in sturdy containers.
Items that will not be accepted include ammunition, explosives, alkaline batteries, paint, electronics and any empty containers that should be disposed of in the regular trash. No cost or appointment is required for household hazardous waste collection.
While household waste can be disposed of free of charge, there are costs involved in disposing of micro-volumes of generator waste (ie waste from non-household sources such as businesses, schools, farms, churches, etc.). An appointment is also required. Call 615.643.3170 to request a price quote and make an appointment.
Many counties and municipalities are meeting the needs of local residents by offering collection of batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, and e-waste — or BOPAE as it’s sometimes called. When properly handled, these BOPAE materials are minimally hazardous but unsuitable for collection at household hazardous waste events. Tennessee residents are encouraged to contact their local city or county solid waste department to locate BOPAE collection points in their area.
When transporting materials to site, place containers in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper or plastic to avoid spills and cross-contamination in the trunk of a car or in the back of a truck. Be sure to keep the materials away from children and pets.
For more information on the Mobile Hazardous Waste Collection Service, please call 800.287.9013 or visit this TDEC link.
