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For Immediate Release • April 18, 2011
Staff Contact: Hilary Collins,
Assistant Manager of the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division, 720-564-2224
View the most recent Press Releases.
APRIL 18, 2011 - The Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility will open this Wednesday, April 20 and begin accepting household hazardous waste.
The HMMF is located at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder, immediately west of the Boulder County Recycling Center. Operating hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The City of Longmont was a part of the coalition that contributed funds to build the facility.
The $2.4 million facility serves residents of Boulder County, the City and County of Broomfield, and all Erie residents. Proof of residency is required. Participating communities reimburse the county for their residents’ use of the facility, so there is no charge for dropping off household hazardous waste.
“We are so excited and proud to open this facility and take our hazardous waste collection service to the next level,” said Hilary Collins, Assistant Manager of the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division. “This facility is the product of excellent foresight and collaboration among our partners in Boulder, Broomfield, Erie, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville and Superior.”
The HMMF replaces the former Household Hazardous Waste facility that operated from 1992-2010 at the Western Disposal Transfer Station on Butte Mill Road in Boulder. In 2010, the county’s household hazardous waste collection program served approximately 10,800 households and diverted more than 800,000 pounds (400 tons) of waste at a cost of roughly $40 per household.
Boulder County applied sustainable building practices to the new facility, including:
· Energy efficiency – air handling unit with heat recovery wheel, evaporative coolers, limited temperature range, high-efficiency heating/cooling unit for office
area, insulation, thermal break, roof panels, tinted glass, occupancy sensors
· Water conservation – tankless hot water heaters, low flow fixtures, native vegetation and drip irrigation
· Day-lighting, indoor air quality, recycled and reused materials and equipment
The new facility includes upgrades and advantages such as:
· Year-round, all-weather operation (not subject to weather closures)
· Greater convenience with more than double the previous operating hours
· Improved safety and ergonomics for staff and customers
· Allow processing efficiencies through use of equipment, for example, to bulk latex paint
· Ability to maximize product reuse and revenues from oil, lead/acid batteries and recycled paint
· Ability to store wastes for more cost effective shipping
· Provide space and flexibility for future processing needs
· Will begin to serve businesses in July
All wastes collected are reused, recycled or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. The program protects the environment through reducing improper disposal of hazardous products to the ground, storm and sanitary sewers, and landfills.
Many toxic, corrosive, flammable or reactive household products are collected, including:
· Home improvement products (paints, thinners, caulks, glues, solvents)
· Auto products (lead/acid batteries, gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze)
· Garden products (herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers)
· Household cleaners and batteries, regular and compact fluorescent bulbs, pet, pool, and hobby products
The HMMF will begin accepting business wastes by appointment only beginning in July. The business service will be limited to those businesses that generate small quantities of hazardous wastes and that are classified by the State of Colorado as “conditionally-exempt small quantity generators.”
More information is available at www.BoulderCountyRecycles.org or by calling the hazardous waste hotline at 303-441-4800.
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