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Hazardous waste: Dispose unsafe products correctly

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daryl Knee
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
The agitated man can't help but listen to the car horns bark in the shimmering heat. A fly pounds upon the windshield searching for an escape. The air conditioning blowing at full capacity does nothing to stir the scarlet hue of midday bumper-to-bumper traffic. A faint unpleasant smell pulls at the man's nostrils.

Without warning, he slumps against the steering wheel, losing consciousness. When the paramedics arrive, he's already dead.

Not thinking, this military member had packed all his household belongings in the car during a move to his next base. A mercury filled thermometer had broken and spilled onto the carpet directly in the sunlight. The fumes proved to be fatal.

"Traveling with hazardous waste is a very real threat," said Denis Pino, Cheyenne director of solid waste. "Once something's spilled, it can harm you or the environment."

Not all moves end in this fictitious, tragic way, but the potential is there. While traveling, keep in mind that some of the everyday household products can become serious hazards.

Instead of throwing away products in the regular trash, Warren has a facility to properly dispose of the materials. The hazardous waste facility, located in Bldg. 944 near the compost yard, will take all of the products that are not safe for travel:

-Pesticides and herbicides

-Toxins and poisons

-Used motor oils and antifreeze

-Auto and other batteries

-Fuels, solvents and flammables

-Cleaners and corrosive materials

-Oil based paint

The facility staff collects all the hazardous materials and places them in controlled buildings. A contractor arrives once a month to take the materials to different locations for disposal.

"We'd rather dispose of the waste properly than have an accident or spill that causes danger," said Joe Travino, Warren environmental protection assistant. "A lot of it is common sense. If it looks like a hazard, it probably is."

Mr. Travino recommends using the Cheyenne Household Hazardous Waste collection depot located at 220 North College Dr. However, the depot closes November to March.

The base waste facility remains open during that time, and turn-ins are by appointment Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Give us a call," Mr. Travino said. "We're trying to minimize the dangers to the environment because people throw the wrong things into the normal trash."

For more information call the Warren hazardous waste facility at 773-4440 or the Cheyenne depot at 637-6440.