MMSD helps folks get rid of hazardous waste: "People don't know what to do with it"
WEST ALLIS -- Hundreds of folks who live in Milwaukee County took advantage of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's "mobile collection site" on Saturday, May 30th -- dropping off their unwanted household hazardous waste.
"I think people just don`t know what to do with this stuff," Todd Guse, household hazardous waste collection coordinator said.
One car load at a time, the "dukes of hazardous waste" helped folks dispose of things like compact fluorescent light bulbs, motor oil, rechargeable batteries and much more.
"(Friday) we had almost 400 cars through here. On a day like today, we could expect anywhere from 500 to 1,000 cars through here," Guse said.
Some had one or two items, and others packed their cars full.
"Pretty typical stuff for (household hazardous waste), but it`s a lot of volume," Guse said.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Veolia teamed up to help folks looking to dispose of this stuff.
"They can feel as if they`re doing something good, freeing up their houses and keeping this stuff out of the lakes and rivers," Jake Zausch, household hazardous waste collection technician said.
Sixteen million pounds of hazardous waste has been collected since the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program began in 1997.
"I can`t do anything outside today, you know -- like mow the lawn, so I was like 'okay, I`ll get this off the to-do list,'" Ginney Pearson said.
Pearson was cleaning out her father's garage and found some things that aren't needed anymore.
"Old gas cans that don`t work because they`re cracked and they leak. I`ve got a nice big spot open in the garage floor no, so I`ll see what else I can put there!" Pearson said.
There is no charge to visit a collection site, and you don't even have to get out of your car!
"It was so quick and easy!" Pearson said.
Here are the dates for MMSD's upcoming hazardous waste collections:
June 27th: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Shorewood High School
1701 E. Capitol Drive
July 11th: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
South Milwaukee DPW Yard
1106 Blake Avenue
September 12th: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Wauwatosa City Hall
7725 W. North Avenue
October 9th: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
October 10th: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
State Fair Park Gate 8
Off 76th Street
You can drop off household hazardous waste year-round at the following sites:
Milwaukee Self-Help Station
3879 W. Lincoln Avenue
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Veolia Environmental Services in Franklin
10518 S. 124th Street
Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Veolia Environmental Services in Menomonee Falls
W124 N9451 Boundary Road (124th Street)
Monday and Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE for a list of what can and cannot be disposed of through MMSD's Household Hazardous Waste collections.
