SALEM — Residents can dispose of their household hazardous waste for free this weekend.
The Department of Public Works will accept everything from batteries to oil-based paint at the DPW garage. No commercial hazardous waste will be accepted. Proof of Salem residence, such as a driver's license, is required.
"It's a chance that people get to clean out the stuff that's been hanging out in the garage, the shed, under the sink," DPW Director Rick Russell said.
The town annually collects household hazardous waste the first Saturday after Labor Day each year. It costs the town about $20,000 to hold the household hazardous waste collection each year, Russell said, and is included as a line item in the department's budget.
"It's great," Russell said. "It gets the stuff out of the environment."
He said the waste collection has grown over the years, with about 375 people dropping items off last year.
The town does not accept smoke detectors because they contain small amounts of radioactive material, or full fire extinguishers. But the town does accept a lot of other things, including antifreeze, herbicides, pesticides, drain cleaners and rat poison.
Residents can drop off their household hazardous waste from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. tomorrow at the DPW garage, 21 Cross St.
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