Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Department of Water Resources Team Up for Summer Recycling Event at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds from 8 to 11 am
It is said that good things come in pairs… like macaroni and cheese, salt and pepper, a fresh set of socks, or a lovely pinot noir and a filet mignon. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources agree entirely with that thinking, which is why the two Gwinnett County organizations not only work so well together but also play host to two Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days each year. The pair hosted their first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day of 2024 on February 10 to excellent results, engaging 60 volunteers and 531 participants while diverting 33.3 tons of waste from local landfills. Given the warmer weather and kids being out of school for the summer, a bigger turnout is expected for the second Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day of the year, slated for July 20 from 8 to 11 am. Hosted at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, the bi-annual event relies on the participation of dozens of volunteers to help direct traffic, haul items from vehicles to their corresponding stations, break down cardboard boxes, and more.
“This event is a great opportunity for our community to come together and make a positive impact,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “. We need as many volunteers as possible to ensure the success of another Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. As word spreads about our community recycling events, the line of cars that need to be processed tends to grow. We’d love to move everyone along swiftly and smoothly so they can get about their days after dropping off their household hazardous waste for recycling or proper disposal. It’s a great way to meet our neighbors, and those four hours from sign-in to cleanup go really quickly, so we’re hoping to see some new faces alongside many of our tried-and-true volunteers this summer!”
It goes without saying that participants are another integral part of the event’s success. The last community recycling event Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful hosted – Earth Day at Coolray Field – engaged a historically high number of Gwinnett County residents with a grand total of 1,818 vehicles. This month’s event will take place at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds – located at 2405 Sugarloaf Pkwy in Lawrenceville. Items that qualify as “household hazardous waste” that can’t be disposed of or recycled curbside and will be accepted at the event include:
Aerosol/spray pesticides
Automotive products (engine degreaser, brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc.)
Cleaners, corrosives, spot removers, acids and bases
Aerosol/spray paint
Auto batteries
Batteries (household and rechargeable)
Chlorinated solvents
Cooking oil and grease
Fire extinguishers
Flammables (lighter fluid and waste fuels (kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.)
Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts
Insecticides
Latex and water-based paints
Lawn care products
Mercury
Mercury salts and elemental mercury thermometers
Oil-based paint and stains
Oxidizers
Pesticides
Poisons
Propane cylinders
Solvents and varnishes
Thermostats and other mercury-containing items
Thinners and paint strippers
Weed killer
Wood preservatives
Items that will NOT be accepted include Ammunition, Radioactive Waste, Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical/Biohazard Waste, and anything else not listed above. Attendees are permitted to bring up to five containers of household waste. Containers must be the size of a copy paper box or laundry basket, and disposable containers are recommended since they cannot be returned once removed from the car. Attendees are asked to enter the main entrance at the traffic light, not at Davis Road.
Volunteers can register through Volunteer Gwinnett at https://bit.ly/3VYHgmu. Marlatt asks that they arrive at the Fairgrounds by 7 am for check-in and placement. She also suggests that they dress appropriately for the warm weather and conditions, wear closed-toe shoes that they do not mind getting dirty, and bring sunscreen and a water bottle to protect against the sun and stay hydrated. In addition to annual and bi-annual events, volunteers are also needed year-round to tackle programs like Adopt-A-Road, Adopt-A-Stream, and Great American Cleanup. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, its programs, and future events, please visit www.GwinnettCB.org.
