Recycle those household chemicals at PRC Boyce Park collection event

The first of four Pennsylvania Resources Council household chemical collections is next week on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Boyce Park Four Seasons Ski Lodge in Plum.

Residents can bring automotive fluids, e-cigarettes/vapes, household cleaners, pesticides, paints and other household chemicals. Fees are charged to recycle materials. Visit the PRC website for complete details.

Preregistration is required, according to a PRC news release. It helps PRC plan for the quantities to expect at the events. Fees and quantities permitted are listed on the PRC website. The website notes that these fees cover less than 25% of the programs’ cost. The remaining costs are supported by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, county government sponsors, and through grants from charitable foundations and contributors.

Contractors who know how to handle the materials work the events. Participants can load what they want to dispose in their vehicles’ trunks or truck beds and remain in line in their vehicle at the events as those contractors unload the materials, the website explains.

Since 2003, PRC has hosted the Household Chemical Collection Events in southwestern Pennsylvania. The program is made possible by the support of many partners and volunteers. The events have directly resulted in the safe management of 6 million pounds of household chemicals, according to the PRC website. The Hard-to-Recycle collections started the same year.

“PRC provides residents with numerous options for the recycling and safe management of a wide variety of materials not accepted in curbside pickup,” according to PRC Executive Director Darren Spielman in the news release. “It’s important to manage these materials the right way because many contain toxic elements that can leach into our waterways or introduce dangerous toxins into our environment, while others contain valuable recyclable resources.”

Three other chemical collections are set: