Hazmobile…Time for Toxic Clean up

HazMobile, a free collection service for household hazardous waste, will be visiting the region later this month, beginning in Katikati on Saturday 27 February. If you have a collection of old – and often dangerous - chemicals, poisons and cleaning products sitting in your garage or shed, now’s your opportunity to get rid of them.

HazMobile 2010 will be held in:

Katikati Saturday 27 February 10am to 2pm Hume Pack-N-Cool, 4 Prospect Drive

Tauranga Saturday 13 March 9am to 2pm Maleme Street Transfer Station, Greerton

Te Puke Saturday 20 March 10am to 2pm Commerce Lane car park

Opotiki Tuesday 23 March 10am to 2pm Opotiki Resource Recovery Facility, Wellington Street

Whakatane Saturday 27 March 10am to 2pm Bunnings Warehouse car park, The Hub

Kawerau Saturday 10 April 10am to 2pm Transfer Station, Dump Road (off River Road)

HazMobile will accept and dispose of almost all of your household hazardous waste but DOES NOT accept paint, asbestos, ammunition or other explosives, medical waste such as syringes or pharmaceuticals, e-waste or waste from commercial operators.

Environment Bay of Plenty HazMobile coordinator Paul Futter said hazardous waste was poisonous and harmful to humans and the environment.

“When mixed, some hazardous products can react with each other and may cause a fire or toxic fumes. Leaky containers can contaminate the soil or groundwater, and ultimately streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean. Hazardous waste that ends up in a landfill can pollute the environment,” Mr Futter said.

HazMobile is supported by Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Tauranga City Council, Opotiki District Council, Whakatane District Council, Kawerau District Council and Environment Bay of Plenty.

This is likely to be the last year that HazMobile will be held in the region. From July 2009, all major providers of agrichemicals began collecting and disposing of unwanted chemicals as part of the Agrecovery Chemicals product stewardship scheme. Environment Bay of Plenty is encouraging people to support the stewardship scheme.

For more information about the HazMobile collection, contact your district or city council or Environment Bay of Plenty on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or go to www.envbop.govt.nz.

ENDS

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