Milford hazardous waste collection set for May 21

Milford Township and Village residents who have paint, household chemicals, and odd electronics sitting around their homes should mark Saturday, May 21 on their calendars.

That’s when the township will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Milford Department of Public Services office, located at 1100 Atlantic Street, behind the Milford Civic Center site.

The public is encouraged to bring in items such as household cleaners, insecticides, and waste oil from motor vehicles that needs to be disposed of properly.

The township is advising that waste containers not exceed 5 gallons of liquid or 40 pounds of solid waste.

The materials should be left in their original containers with their labels, and different materials shouldn’t be mixed together.

Items that shouldn’t be brought in for drop off include construction waste and tires. Residents are also asked not to bring in latex or water-based paints, since they aren’t considered hazardous waste. They can be disposed of by letting them dry out and then throwing cans away with regular rubbish. However, oil-based paints and solvents can be brought in for disposal.

Used computers and electronics such as TVs and VCRs, as well as household batteries and car batteries will also be accepted.

Expired medicines and prescription drugs without labels will also be collected. However, medications will not be collected in their original containers and residents are advised to drop off their pills in unmarked baggies.

Needles should be dropped off in puncture-resistant rigid containers, such as empty fabric softener containers.

Narcotics will not be accepted.

Some of the household hazardous wastes will be burned or reprocessed, while parts from electronics will be salvaged.

This will be the 17th year for the township’s household hazardous waste collection event.

According to the Milford officials, 55,401 pounds of waste were collected at last year’s collection day, which was more than the 2009 total of 47,614 pounds.

About 58 percent of the materials brought in last year came from Milford Township residents, while 42 percent came from village residents.