Boston residents can drop off both hazardous waste and ewaste this weekend. There are only two times a year when you can legally turn these items over to the city. This is one.
Update: Boston Hazardous Waste Disposal Fall 2011
The photo above is an example of what you can't do. Don't put your old computer out with the trash. The city's recycling brochure says," For curbside pickup, call Sanitation at 617-635-7574. TVs & computer monitors will not be collected with trash."
The city's promotional site for the event offers this description:
"eWaste is a popular informal name for consumer and business electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. Over 130 million mobile phones alone were discarded in 2005. The National Safety Council projects that nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next 5 years, amounting to an estimated 3.2 million tons of eWaste. Researchers have estimated that nearly 75 percent of eWaste is in storage. We are providing and opportunity for FREE, safe and environmentally sound and friendly disposal and recycling."
What is hazardous waste?
You can download a brochure with a complete list on the city's hazardous waste page (link below) but they offer a short summary when they tell you to:
"Put household poisons, insecticides, paint, tires, auto fluids, car batteries, wood preservatives, herbicides and pool supplies, propane tanks, motor oil , and products labeled corrosive, flammable or toxic in cardboard boxes for safe transport and bring them to the (hazardous waste dropoff) location."
Individuals - Sorry Boston residents only!
On Saturday June 6th, 2009 you can drop off ewaste from 9 am to 3 pm at the Bayside Expo Center, 200 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester MA. Individuals do not need to prerigister. Full information at this link:
http://boston.poweron.com/
And, you can drop off hazardous waste from 9 am to 2 pm at Umass Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd. - Boston, MA. This is very near the ewaste site. Full information at this link:
http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling/hazardouswaste.asp
A second hazardous waste drop off is scheduled for Saturday June 27, 2009 from from 9 am to 2 pm at the West Roxbury Public Works Yard, 315 Gardner Street, Boston MA. Full information at this link:
http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling/hazardouswaste.asp
Businesses and Institutions
On Friday June 5th, 2009 9 am to 2 pm there is a an ewaste drop off for institutions and businesses. Preregistration at the link below is needed for this one.
http://boston.poweron.com/p/register
The drop off site is Marine Industrial Park, 1 Drydock Avenue, Boston.
( Photo © 2007 Penny Cherubino)
