Old paint, batteries, cleaning products, and petroleum products were just some of the items being disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day held on Saturday, October 2, on the grounds of the Hawkesbury Sewage Treatment Plant.
The collection day was organized by the Joint Recycling Committee and was open to all residents of Hawkesbury, East Hawkesbury, and Champlain. Normally, one day is held in the spring, and another in the fall, but this year’s spring collection day was cancelled due to the stronger COVID-19 restrictions which were in place at the time. To give residents more time to drop off items, the hours of the October 2 collection day were extended from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to Hawkesbury Councillor Robert Lefebvre of the Joint Recycling Committee, more than 60 metric tonnes of materials were collected from 909 vehicles. It rained most of the day, but the weather did not keep people away.
“It was a busy day, but a bit wet,” said Lefebvre.
Students who are members of the Les Faucons hockey team at École secondaire publique le Sommet in Hawkesbury volunteered. Wearing protective clothing, they removed items from cars stopped along the one-way route set up through the facility.
With the help of municipal employees, all materials were placed in containers to be taken away for safe processing by an environmental disposal company. In return for their service, the Joint Recycling Committee will make a donation to the team.
