PRC recently concluded its 20th season of hosting household chemical collections, an effort that has resulted in the responsible management of 6.5 million pounds of chemical products dropped off by 60,000+ households since the program launched in 2003.
“A typical home contains 100 pounds of hazardous chemicals, according to the EPA, and while many of these products are safe, problems arise when you use or dispose of them improperly,” says PRC Executive Director Darren Spielman. “At each event, a certified contractor processes the materials for proper disposal. Materials are recycled or safely managed.”
At 12 collections in 2022, PRC enabled 3,900 households to properly dispose of 383,175 pounds of household chemicals including pesticides, household cleaners, pool chemicals, aerosol cans and other products.
“While the majority of materials dropped off at collections are common products such as automotive fluids, paints and cleaning products, we have received strychnine, liquid mercury and bags of DDT,” says Spielman. “We are proud of our 20 years of hard work protecting the environment from hazardous waste – safeguarding habitats and communities. We thank the many supporters over the past two decades who have helped PRC to serve more than 60,000 households, and we look forward to serving many more in communities across the state in the future.”
The 2022 PRC household chemical collection campaign was sponsored by Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny County Parks Department, Beaver County Commissioners, Cambria County Solid Waste Authority, City of Pittsburgh, Fayette County Commissioners, Fayette County Conservation District, Washington County Planning Commission, Colcom Foundation, LANXESS, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania American Water, PPG and Pittsburgh Penguins, UPMC, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Fayette County Recycling Convenience Center, PPG Paints Arena, Washington Wild Things, Washington County Family Entertainment, and 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.