The EPA considers some leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic as household hazardous waste. Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them.  According to the EPA, the average household generates more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste per year.  The EPA has delegated the oversight of hazardous waste in Kentucky to the Division of Waste Management.  The Division provides grants for community household hazardous waste collection events to ensure that certain control and safety measures are taken. 

The Campbell County Extension Agent for Natural Resources and Environmental Management serves on the NKY Solid Waste Management Area’s Household Hazardous Waste Coalition with County Solid Waste Departments, Sanitation District NO. 1, and the City of Florence.  The coalition received a $127,000 grant from the Division in 2017 to conduct a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Nov. 4, 2017 at UC Health Stadium in Florence, KY. In addition, The Campbell County Extension District Board contributed $5000 to help increase Campbell County participation.

Campbell County residents and the farming community identified the need for oil, fuel, and other flammables disposal options at Extension Council meetings. Forty-four thousand residences were notified about the event through What’s Happening in Campbell County.  An Extension news article, promoting the event, was published in the Campbell County Recorder, with a circulation of 17,000, on Oct. 5, 2017.

Members of the Household Hazardous Waste Coalition, Extension staff and over 100 volunteers from NKY schools and businesses worked at the event.  Participants received educational information about household hazardous waste as they registered.  2841 residents of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton County participated.  Disposal and recycling vendors reported collecting:

• 144,620 pounds of electronics
• 137,681 pounds of paint (14% increase from previous year)
• 22,710 pounds of fuel, anti-freeze, corrosives, and flammables
• 7,442 pounds of pesticides (22% increase from previous year)
• 3,451 pounds of household cleaners
• 3,209 pounds of dry cell, and NiCd batteries (12% increase from previous year)

Campbell County participation rose by 41%, from 380 people in 2016 to 534 people in 2017.  Campbell County participation is up 84% since Campbell County Extension became involved with the event in 2015.  Sixty-nine percent of participants disposed of oil, fuel, anti-freeze, corrosives, flammables, and pesticides.  Seventy-six percent of people dropped of paint, and 49% disposed of electronics.