Countywide recycling effort brings in hefty HazMat haul

Countywide recycling effort brings in hefty HazMat haul

West Memphis plays host to EAPD event

news@theeveningtimes.com

A countywide household hazardous material recycling day was a big hit Wednesday. Workers at West Memphis City Hall hosted the special collection in the parking lot next to the regular recycling bins.

The event came together with a group effort between the county administration, the City of West Memphis and the East Arkansas Planning and Development. A team of specially trained and certified technicians were on hand to handle the stuff.

“Tim Phillips of the EAPD actually sent them down here,” said Public Works Administrative Assistant Rhonda Standridge.

“We’ve been wanting to have one but you must have staff certified to collect hazardous waste.”

A crew of four was on hand to receive old paint, household cleaners, pesticides, fertilizer and light bulbs. The crew set up a drive through lane in the south parking lot of city hall and unloaded trunks, back seats and pickup truck beds. The technicians then sorted the items and stowed them on leak proof palletized bins or barrels.

Workers wore gloves, eye protection and rubber boots.

A steady stream of cars pulled through and were unloaded during the four hour event. Three 55 gallon drums were filled with leftover liquids. Four pallets filled with household hazardous materials. Most of that was paint.

Paint collection in West Memphis and Marion was recently suspended because a paint recycling company failed to make pick-ups.

County residents took full advantage of the special collection day filling three of cubic yard palletized bins with old paint cans.

Many residents took advantage of the time and location and dropped their regular recycling too. Lots of old newspapers and coke cans hit the bins at city hall. Standridge and Code Enforcement officer Mike Antel handed out recycling tote bags and bins to recycle- minded folks to help them organize their next trip to the recycling trailers. Residents were urged to put recycled items into the trailers without the bag and the new reusable totes and tubs went toward making that easier.

By John Rech