Household Hazardous Waste Collection Comes to Southington This Month

Getting rid of those hazardous household wastes can be easier said than done, but the Tunxis Recycling Operating Committee is bringing those in Southington four opportunities to turn in those dangerous chemicals – and the first occurs right here in Southington.

The collection program, which will take place at four locations between Sept. 21 and Oct. 19, begins with a drop-off at the Southington Town Garage at 1 Della Britta Drive, located off Mulberry Street.


The program is available to all residents from TROC communities of Southington, Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, Meriden, New Britain, Plainville, Plymouth, Prospect, and Wolcott. It runs from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Identification is required and businesses are not eligible.

“Our fund balance for the program remains healthy, and the organization is well-positioned to continue to offer this service to member towns,” TROC Executive Director Mark Bobman said. “Since the HHW program began in 1994, over 42,000 participants have brought materials to one of the many collections offered throughout the region.”

Additional fall Household Hazardous Waste collections will be held on Sept. 28 in Prospect, Oct. 5 in Bristol and Oct. 19 in New Britain/Berlin.

Items to be accepted include: 

Pesticides and poisons, herbicides and weedkillers, oil-based paint, paint thinners, varnish, household batteries, hobby and photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, household cleaners and disinfectants, antifreeze, waste oil, kerosene, gasoline, fertilizers, fluorescent bulbs and mercury-containing thermostats.

Items that cannot be accepted include:

Propane tanks, tires, computers and electronic equipment, explosives, flares, smoke detectors, medicines and drugs, fire extinguishers, empty containers -- and waste from any businesses. 

Not able to attend one of the collections? Well if it’s just paint you are looking to get rid of, you don’t have to wait.

“Connecticut residents now have permanent locations to drop off unwanted household paint for recycling,” Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback said. “Participating paint retailers partner with the new PaintCareTM paint recycling program.”

TROC is a Bristol-based recycling agency that has been working with its member communities since 1990 to promote recycling and waste reduction.  Residents with questions regarding the household hazardous waste collections should call the public works department in their respective communities or visit the TROC web site, www.tunxisrecycling.org.

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