Separate hazardous waste and paper shredding events are scheduled for this month in West Hartford.

By Ronni Newton

Sunday, June 4 is a day to get rid of materials that are no longer needed around the house.

The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) will be holding a collection of household hazardous waste from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Public Works facility at 17 Brixton Street in West Hartford. The collection is open to residents of all MDC member towns (ID must be shown) and there is no cost to dispose of materials.

Household hazardous wastes include items that cannot be safely thrown away as trash or poured down the drain, and through the MDC HazWaste program the items will be disposed of in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. These items include kitchen cleaners, chemicals typically used in a garage or workshops, solvents, and yard insecticides. A complete list of eligible materials can be found here.

“Many residents have collected hazardous material during the pandemic and have been waiting for an opportunity to safely dispose of them,” said Katherine Bruns, recycling coordinator.

All items should be kept in their original containers, and placed in a box to be brought to the collection site on June 4. The entrance to the collection site is at the end of Oakwood Avenue just past Brixton Street and ample signage will be in place.

The town urges residents to note these tips:

• Do not mix different products together
• Do not smoke in your car or near the collection area
• Be prepared to wait between 5 and 30 minutes. Bring something to read for yourself and a game or toy to entertain your child.

The MDC will also hold a fall HazWaste collection in West Hartford on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., also at the Brixton Street location. West Hartford residents are also permitted to attend hazardous waste collections in other MDC member towns and a list of locations and dates please see the MDC website or call the MDC HazWaste Hotline at 860-278-3809.

West Hartford’s Department of Public Works will host a paper shredding event. Courtesy photo (we-ha.com file photo)

Paper Shredding

The Town of West Hartford will also be offering a paper shredding event, but this year it will not be on the same day as the hazardous waste disposal.

Residents can bring their confidential papers to the Department of Public Works Oakwood extension facility on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. until noon, for safe and secure shredding, at no charge. The shredding event is open to residents only, not businesses.

There will also be a collection of non-perishables for the West Hartford Food Pantry at the paper shredding event.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.