Residents can safely dispose of rechargeable batteries, household cleaning products, tires, pesticides, major appliances and other household hazardous materials on Saturday, April 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling.
The collection day was not held last year because of rising costs and a lack of necessary personnel to run the event. Hurricane Ida and the COVID-19 pandemic forced a hiatus of the event in 2020 and 2021, making it difficult to recruit the staff needed for 2024, according to Jan Herrington, who handles media relations for the event.
“This year, we are able to do it, and we have a plan for moving forward from here on out so 2026 will be even better,” Herrington said. “Our goal is to continue it.”
New this year is St. Charles Parish and St. John Parish’s financial support of the event, which has until now been sponsored completely by industry. Twenty local companies are also providing financial support of the event.
“Industry believes so much in making sure that the landfill only gets what should go there,” Herrington said. “And the two parish presidents are very enthusiastic and that’s why they stepped up to help this year. Because they would rather help than not have the event.”
Herrington said at past collection days, each location has received over 300 cars making drop-offs. St. John Parish residents can drop off waste at Plaza LaPlace Shopping Center. This year, residents can drop off electronics, such as used computers, copiers, printers, radios, TVs and other electronic devices.
But other products cannot be accepted, including latex paint, ammunition, infectious waste, explosives, and other products.
“The main thing is if people go in their garages and they have old pesticides or gasoline they don’t want to use they can come and properly dispose of it and not dispose of it through their trash and make the landfill hazardous,” Herrington said.
By disposing or recycling the hazardous materials, the event helps keep excess chemicals out of homes, waterways and landfills.
The following household hazardous materials will be accepted at the collection sites: oil-based paint, solvents, tires (limit five per vehicle and one delivery only), automotive and other rechargeable batteries, household cleaning products, acids/bases, used oil, antifreeze, aerosol cans, fluorescent lamps, pesticides and herbicides, scrap metal, major appliances, used electronics, such as used computers, copiers, printers, radios, TVs and other electronic devices. Staff will check IDs to confirm residency before accepting materials.
The event is sponsored by 20 local companies, including Arkema, Bayer, Bunge, Cornerstone Chemical Company, Denka Performance Elastomer, Diamond Green Diesel, Dow, DuPont, Galata Chemical Corp., Koch Fertilizer, Marathon Petroleum Company, Nalco Water – an Ecolab Company, Nucor, OxyChem, Pinnacle Polymers, Shell – Norco, Air Products, and Valero – St. Charles. River Region Environmental Association is the fiscal agent for the event.
