Landfill safety concerns prompt public reminder on hazardous waste handling.
Planning a trip to the landfill this fall? Authorities are reminding citizens to safely dispose of and recycle hazardous household waste to protect both staff and infrastructure.
Hazardous waste, due to its dangerous and potentially explosive nature, should not be placed in curbside bins or disposed of at construction sites, the Glenmore Landfill, or other collection depots. Proper disposal reduces the risk of fires and explosions, safeguarding staff and the environment.
Items considered hazardous include anything corrosive, flammable, or poisonous, such as e-cigarette batteries, small power tools, smoke alarms, and children’s toys with batteries left inside. Such items labeled with a ‘do not dispose’ logo should not be mixed with landfill loads or thrown in curbside bins.
Residents are urged to help keep workers safe by disposing of waste properly, said Scott Hoekstra, Landfill Operations Manager at the City of Kelowna. Lithium-ion batteries, often hidden in disposed items, are a common fire hazard at landfills.
Electronics, batteries, and other hazardous materials pose substantial fire and explosion risks during recycling processes. These items need to be taken to approved third-party facilities for safe recycling.
Hazardous materials in recycling carts endanger collection staff and can damage vehicles and sorting equipment, stated Cynthia Coates, Supervisor Solid Waste at the RDCO. Such improper disposal also raises regional contamination rates, leading to surcharges. Items like batteries and propane tanks should not be placed in curbside carts.
For guidance on disposing of hazardous materials, visit rdco.com/provincial-take-back-programs or rdco.com/hazwaste, or use the Recycle Coach app at rdco.com/recyclecoach.
More information on the Glenmore Landfill can be found at kelowna.ca/landfill.