HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CAN NOT BE DISPOSED OF WITH REGULAR HOUSEHOLD WASTE

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Department of Technical Services would like to remind community members that “Household Hazardous Waste Materials” cannot be disposed of with normal household waste that is collected by MCA and its contractors. MCA provides the Kana:takon, Tsi Snaihne and Kawehno:ke districts with free household waste and recyclables collection. This collection program does not include Household Hazardous Waste Materials Collection. Certain materials and objects can cause harm to the staff and contractors collecting household waste and must be disposed of separately.

Unfortunately, MCA’s service provider continues to discover Household Hazardous Waste Materials and other items that should not be included within the main household waste. ANY Household Hazardous Waste thrown into the waste stream can lead to a serious health concern to the service provider work force.

Recently an employee was exposed to an odorous chemical believed to be commercial grade paint thinner when it was opened during the compaction of the waste stream.

The waste collectors have no way of knowing when trash bags contain “Household Hazardous Waster Materials” until they are disposed of at the landfill site.

The following items cannot be disposed of with your normal household waste: Used oil, batteries, paint, paint thinner, and medications etc.

Please note that suppliers or distributers of any and all Household Hazardous Waste Materials are now required – by law – to accept any unused materials and products that you purchased from them and want to discard. We are aware for example that many service garages will accept used car batteries and unused oil for free. Every home improvement store will accept excess paint, and/or materials if purchased from them originally.

We are asking for you as the homeowner and as an individual community member to take responsibility and dispose of used oil and other toxic Household Hazardous Waste Materials in the most environmentally friendly and responsible manner possible.

Together we can work to properly dispose of all waste to help keep our living environment clean and safe for our families, future generations, and of course for Mother Earth and all our relations living amongst us.

Please help to protect Mother Earth.

Nia:wen