Safely dispose of hazardous waste at local events

Not sure what to do with those dead batteries, burnt-out fluorescent light bulbs and cans of leftover paint stacking up in the garage? The Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste Management District will take them off your hands.

The council will be collecting household hazardous waste for residents of communities in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties on 12 weekends in coming months.

Residents of participating communities may bring household hazardous waste to any of the mobile collection events — or the two permanent collection facilities in Lee’s Summit and Kansas City — at no charge.

The program accepts residential waste only, including paint, paint strippers, varnishes, adhesives and glues, hobby supplies, batteries, motor oil, compact fluorescent light bulbs, antifreeze, lawn and garden chemicals and pesticides. The chemicals in these products can poison, corrode, explode or ignite easily when handled improperly.

Proof of residency is required. Residents of nonparticipating communities may use the Lee’s Summit facility for a fee.

The regional program has safely disposed of more than 7 million pounds of household hazardous waste since 1997.

To see a list of participating cities, where and when the mobile events will take place, go to recyclespot.org/HHW/Mobile-Events.

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Safely dispose of hazardous waste at local events."