BANGOR – On Oct. 7, 2000, the Bangor Public Works Department held its third annual Household Hazardous Waste collection at the Recycling Center.

Residents of Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Hermon and Veazie participated in the event and shared in the cost of disposing of hazardous wastes in the form of oil-based products.

A total of 311 people participated in the 2000 event and 2,454 gallons of materials were delivered to the Bangor Recycling Center.

Oil-based products that were collected included antifreeze, old gasoline, old kerosene, oil- based paints, thinners and turpentine and used motor oil. The largest volumes collected were oil-based paints with 965 gallons collected and used motor oil, which totaled 961 gallons.

Eight years later, on Oct. 4, the Bangor Public Works department again held its annual Hazardous Waste collection. The same towns and cities continued to support the program.

In addition to those communities, Carmel, Clifton, Dedham, Dixmont, Eddington, Etna, Glenburn, Holden, Kenduskeag, Milford, Newburgh, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, Penobscot Nation, Stockton Springs and Winterport participated in the event and shared the cost of properly disposing the hazardous and universal waste.

This year, 1,108 people from the 22 communities combined efforts to collect large quantities of hazardous and universal waste. Items included 900 pounds of aerosols, 2,400 gallons of waste oil-based paint and related materials, 64 gallons of waste turpentine, 171 gallons of liquid pesticides, 1,400 pounds of solid pesticides, 187 gallons of corrosive materials, 57 gallons of used motor oil and 228 gallons of used antifreeze.

In addition to these hazardous waste items, universal waste items included 505 televisions, 428 computer monitors, 107 ballasts, many fluorescent bulbs and some 250 pounds of recyclable batteries.

What a difference eight years makes!

In the last eight years we have added additional products including pesticides, corrosives and all of the products that are classified as universal waste including televisions, computer monitors, thermometers, thermostats, ballasts, fluorescent bulbs and rechargeable batteries.

Collection figures reveal that more communities are participating and more volumes of waste are being collected. Each year we see continued commitment to the process of collecting and properly shipping hazardous waste to authorized end-use facilities.

Our regional effort to collect these large quantities of hazardous waste shows our true commitment to the environment. Special thanks are extended to the staff and volunteers from the participating communities as well as Keep Bangor Beautiful and the Bangor Area Storm Water Group, which helped to make this year’s event a complete success.