Think "HazMobile" During Household Cleanups
By: Tiffany Kincaid, Keep Martin Beautiful Executive Director
Every Martin County resident knows that part of preparation for hurricane season is checking for batteries to power flashlights and radios in case of power outages.
But did you know that batteries are considered household hazardous waste and that they shouldn’t just be tossed into your curbside garbage container for regular pickup. Batteries – and many other types of household hazardous waste should be diverted from the landfill and disposed of properly.
And there’s a free and easy way to do it: through Martin County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Vehicle – or HazMobile for short.
The HazMobile provides residents with a safe and convenient way to dispose of household hazardous waste at specific locations throughout Martin County. Once a month, the HazMobile is on site at fire stations in Hobe Sound, Stuart, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Port Salerno, and Tequesta, and at the Town Commons Park in Sewall’s Point. The HazMobile’s schedule of appearances, with day, time and location is listed on Martin County’s website here.
The County also has a permanent Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Center at 9155 Busch Street in Palm City. Residents can dispose of up to 100 pounds of waste at no charge.
Most people don’t realize there are many items in your kitchen, bathroom and garage that are considered household hazardous waste. Look around your home for any of these items listed below and please dispose of them properly.
- Aerosol cans
- Antifreeze
- Cleaners
- Fertilizers and herbicides
- Filters
- Fluorescent bulbs
- Household batteries
- Paints
- Pesticides
- Use motor or cooking oil (under 5 gallons)
Helping to keep Martin County clean, green and beautiful takes many forms. It’s more than beach cleanups, road adoptions and neighborhood revitalization efforts. Disposing of your household hazardous waste properly is another simple way you as an individual can make a difference and be a great steward of our environment.
To learn more about Keep Martin Beautiful and ways you too can take part in projects and initiatives to improve the environment, visit our Keep Martin Beautiful website or follow Keep Martin Beautiful on Facebook.
As always, thank you to everyone who is already doing their part to Keep Martin County Beautiful!
A Special PS: At this time when so many of our fellow Floridians have had their lives shattered by the devastating destruction of Hurricane Ian, Keep Martin Beautiful urges you to consider supporting worthy organizations that are trying to help with the most basic of needs. The American Red Cross is a favorite of ours (https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/hurricane-relief/hurricane-ian-relief.html).