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Chance to get rid of household hazardous waste next week

The first ever hazardous waste roundup will be happening in Cranbrook on September 21.

The first ever hazardous waste roundup will be happening in Cranbrook on September 21.

The roundup is put on by the Regional District of East Kootenay and meant to give residents of the East Kootenay a chance to get rid of unwanted hazardous waste products that may be difficult to dispose of otherwise.

The Household Hazardous Waste Round Ups will take place Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cranbrook Transfer station at 2405 22nd Street North.

Kevin Paterson, RDEK environmental services manager explained that there are many products that don't fall under any of the provincial recycling programs, but also don't really belong in the regular garbage.

"Those products often end up sitting in a garage or basement collecting dust," Paterson said. "These Round Ups are aimed precisely at collecting those products so that they can be safely disposed of or recycled and we hope to see people get on board and participate."

The Cranbrook date is one of three roundups happening around the region.

Visit the RDEK's website at www.rdek.bc.ca to view details and get a complete list of acceptable products. Those include everything from shoe polish, hair spray and oven cleaner to pool chemicals, mercury, paint, fungicides and more.

He noted that only residential household hazardous waste will be accepted.

Paterson said the regional district often gets calls from people who have a cleaning product or an old jar of something in their garage and nowhere to safely get rid of it.

"That's why we've organized this event and why we are encouraging people to take advantage of this opportunity," he said. "We are grateful to have Newalta and the Product Care Association as participating partners and will be taking a wide range of different things."