Teri, it's nice you know where these toxic waste places are. Most people want to do the right thing with old cans of paint and anti freeze but don't know where to put it.

Hi Teri,

This is great information for anyone in Anoka County. We have a similar place, like yours, you drive up and they remove it for you. It's the same thing with e-waste in the county. Our city now offers curbside pick up, you call they haul. Since we don't have basements, all that stuff just hangs around the garage for too long!

Teri, this is something that I'm running into more and more lately.  You provided a good service here today by letting people know the safe way of disposal and safe places to do so.

Hi Teri, This is such great information for the consumer. When we go to buy these things, we never think about  the disposal of what's left. These things tend to sit around in garages and storage areas and become sources of fumes , being spilled, getting old and sometimes even more dangerous by breaking down. But disposal becomes a problem and you reminded everyone of the solution. Well done and Gold Star.

Teri, This is wonderful for the consumers, I had lots of old paint that I had to dispose of last year...Thanks for bringing up a great subject of how to dispose of these things carefully.

I remember when I sold a property in MD to move to my new home in Va.  My sons helped me clean out the old house (broom clean and free of debris).  Thanks guys.  They left all the paint and spare materials from or remodelling job. 

It took me two trips to the dump to get rid of the paint and building materials that they left in my house.  Our local dump accepts paint, etc for disposal. 

This is a very important article.  Glad it was featured. 

Teri - Such important information. It is amazing how quickly this stuff accumulates around the house, and you don't know how to safely get rid of it. Well done

HI TERRI!

Congrats on your feature.  Great post because everyone loves free & everyone wants to be green.  Fab way how you tied all that together!

Enjoy your day!

This is great information for your community!  Many people, even locals, don't know how to handle toxic wastes.

Hi Diane, The biggest obstacle is that homeowners don't even think of these things as toxic waste. That seems to be the first problem. Communities across the whole country have re-cycle programs and that is great. The real problem is that communities have not done enough in this regard to educate consumers about these left overs.

We have legislation for which ear you can hear your cell phone out of ( exaggeration) but where is my signature on a piece of paper that says I have read and understand how to dispose of the left overs of the chemicals, pesticides, paint etc when I buy the stuff in shiny new cans all tightly sealed. If we have to legislate every little thing in life, of all the things to leave out, these chemicals do more harm, cause more accidents and fires than just about anything I can think of off hand.

Am I ranting,lol. I am no environmentalist but I do seem to have been blessed with an inordinate amount of common sense. Thank You GOD.

Teri, This is great list of information for new homeowners. I am so glad this post was featured. I have a list of all the utility companies that I usually send my buyers a week before we close escrow. I think I am going to add our local toxic waste recycling locations to the list as well. Thank you for the idea.

Congratulations Teri on the feature-Well deserved and IMHO we need much more information from others in this regard. Think about what a serious issue this is and what a real problem these things can be for homeowners. Especially when they sell their homes and then what to do with this stuff. In fact we could provide a real service to all of individual market areas about this subject and do some real benefit in the process. Well Done!!!

Our daily newspaper The Leaf Chronicle puts in an add for all consumers with the day and time to get rid of all your toxic waste, incl. oil from your oil changes in your car etc. etc. We have this ad in the paper once a month.It sure helps to know this and not sit on all these paint cans etc.

Teri - this is such valuable information for buyers and sellers, adn those folks who just have too much of this stuff around. I am pleased to say we have great hazardous waste recycling/drop-off services here in Carlsbad. I have made it a point in past contracts to specifically request these sorts of things be gotten rid off unless the buyer actually requests certain cans of things. Some buyers want the stuff, but they don't need all the old stuff that the seller has been to lazy to get rid off. Letting folks know what the services are in their new community would be valuable info to pass along as part of our closing out on a deal.

Great job.

Jeff

Knoxville has a receiving center for toxic wastes like these. The county also conducts a collection effort periodically at several locations.

Teri,

We have the same type of centers here in North Carolina.  Noone really knows where to go.  Although the subject is - well - not so pleasant - it's nice to know that you have the information needed for the community.

Gary--I agree...We were surprised of what we could bring in and drop off. There are even tips on how to transport everything safely. This service used to be only offered periodically. But year round for a few days a week makes it convenient to "do the right thing!"

Lynda--It ends up in our basements because it would freeze in the garage in a MN winter. But there are yard chemicals in the garage too. It is amazing how quickly it builds up isn't it?

Kris--Frustrating to find this stuff on a final walkthrough! If people know where to dispose of these things safely, they won't leave these "treasures" for the new buyers!

William--Thank you!! Cleaning out is just as important for the average Anoka County resident as it is for those buying and selling. Proper disposal keeps our soils and lakes clean! We are fortunate that Anoka County makes it very easy for us to do the right thing!

Carole--Funny how quickly the stuff piles up isn't it?

Lenn--My sister-in-law was very upset when she purchased her first home and was left with a basement full of "treasures". It is never fun to clean up someone else's mess...no matter whether the intent was good or not. Clean up as you go...don't wait for moving. These centers make it easy!

Sandra--It really does pile up quickly!! hen the county makes it easy, it is less likely that someone will dump illegally in the trash.

Yvette--Thanks!! I appreciate your comments!

Diane--I agree...So many people don't know what to do with this stuff. We are very fortunate that our county has made this a priority to keep these toxins out of landfills.

William--Exactly. The cans all say "dispose of properly" but few really know where unused and half-used cans, bottles and containers should go so they pile up. With more people caring about our lakes, rivers and environment, it has become a priority to do the right thing. And it is so easy in our area! Of course it took there being toxins in the lakes for people to take notice in MN but hopefully since it is soooo easy to do it right now, people will be more apt to take care of the environment all of the time!

Mana--Great idea! You should post a blog for your local site in Ventura County as well. I am certain you would have a list of resources!

Renate--As more communities make it easy to dispose of these toxins properly and timely, let's hope that fewer bottles and cans will collect in our basements and garages!

Jeff--Thanks!! I explain to all my sellers that we will ask if the buyers want it and if they say no, you need to dispose of it. Most sellers choose at that time to get rid of the really old stuff and just leave the newest leftovers for touchups....AND only those if the buyer says it is okay!

Jim--It used to be a periodic collection in Anoka County...now to have a central location open a few days a week all year round is wonderful! I am so glad to hear it is not unique to our area as this is important to all communities!

Tracy--Hopefully with the help of the new localism site and our blogs, people in our communities will find the information so the hazardous and toxins are disposed of properly.

Teri, congratulations on your gold star!!! What valuable information this is. It's a great resource to have available. I don't even know where I could dump this stuff. ;-) Guess I should check and share, huh? ;-)

What excellent info Teri. I'm going to check and see when Dakota Counties is. I recall them doing this awhile ago too!

Teri--Thanks!! I was surprised at the list of things considered hazardous and what the collection site accepted in our area. Yes...Look up and share it is obviously information that many people need!

Beth--Good idea!! The site is open year-round in Anoka County. It is so much easier than trying to time the periodic dropoffs that would happen in the summer previously. We always missed the dates and that is why it keeps piling up! Maybe Dakota County has a more regular schedule too!

I looked it up Teri...and they DO!!!! Thanks so much for the information.

Since I have been cleaning out my garage lately I have plenty to throwout that is toxic. Good to read this to know what to do with it.