GUIDELINES

Registration:

• All residents dropping off hazardous waste must register before the event that includes the generator's signature. This verifys that the waste is coming from a Tompkins County household.

Look for online registration in 2012!

Waste Limits:

• Each household may bring in up to 25 gallons of liquids and 50 pounds of solids per DEPOT visit.

Preparation:

• Wear protective clothing and gloves to avoid unnecessary skin exposures.
• Lay down a plastic sheet under area where hazardous containers will be handled.
• Keep HHW away from children, pets, sources of water and flame, and never smoke around HHW!
• Keep all products in original, labeled containers.
• NEVER MIX CHEMICALS TOGETHER!
• Carefully place items (including leaking, or rusty containers) in newspaper and place inside a plastic bag or larger nonreturnable container with absorbent material, such as kitty litter.
• Label unidentified products "unknown".

Unacceptable Items- DO NOT bring the following items to the DEPOT:

• Ammunition, explosives, and firearms
• Asbestos
• Controlled substances (e.g., barbiturates, LSD, or other prescription medication)
• Empty containers
• Gas cylinders (other than aerosols), including small propane tanks (these materials can be recycled at the RSWC Scrap Metal drop-off area)
• Medical, infectious waste, including syringes.
• Radioactive waste, including radioactive ion chamber smoke detectors
• Unidentified products:  The County's hazardous waste contractor will test them while you wait, to determine the identity of the waste, as well as its acceptability at the DEPOT.

Please Note:

• DO NOT leave valuables or other belongings in your trunk that you do not want removed.

For more guidance, please contact our office at 273-6632.

Onsite:

• For your safety, please stay in your car. You may be asked to push a trunk release button or provide keys to DEPOT staff to allow acess to trunks or hatchbacks.
• There may be a brief wait while your materials are checked for acceptability.
• The is NO SMOKING on the DEPOT site.
• Upon arrival at the DEPOT, registration forms will be checked.
• Every visitor must confirm Tompkins County residency by showing a driver's license and/or vehicle registration and MUST HAVE A SOLID WASTE PERMIT.