During the recycling committee workshop on household hazardous waste collection, participants heard about successful drop off and curbside collection programs. Dennis Fleming, Chief of Solid Waste for Charles County, Maryland discussed Charles County's efforts to provide a drop off site at the landfill 12 times a year for residents, and Julie Klien, Program Manager for the City of Denver presented their efforts in curbside household hazardous waste collection.

Primarily a rural farming community, Charles County Maryland solicited funds from Maryland Extension Services fund and the County General fund to collect fertilizer, oil, herbicides, pesticides, gasoline and other chemicals left over from the farming seasons. According to Mr. Flemming, effectively and efficiently using your drum storage is key to operating a cost effective HHW drop of program. By identifying chemicals and separating them into groups to prevent reactions, Charles County stores waste in a bunker until the barrels are filled. Although it may take up to a year to fill a drum, they are no longer shipping empty barrels.

Charles County also accepts latex paint, which although hazardous, cannot be placed in landfills. The collected latex paint is mixed together in a large drum and given away to nonprofit organizations for free utilizing another cost saving and community building method.

Julie Klein, Program Manager for the City of Denver, Colorado presented the City of Denver's curbside household hazardous waste collection program. The door-to-door collection program serves approximately 1,000 Denver households by collecting over 105,000 pounds of discarded pesticides, paints, used motor oil and other household chemicals. In order to take advantage of the curbside pick up, participants must live within the Denver Solid Waste Management service area, schedule only one collection per year, have at least three different waste items for collection and encourage residents to combine with a neighbor or other Denver area resident.

The program is marketed in community newsletters, daily newspapers, utility bill inserts and other direct marketing pieces. The collection is done by Curbside, Inc./Safety-Kleen who ships a collection container "kit" to the residents home prior to collection. The kit can securely hold up to 75 pounds of household hazardous waste products. Other materials such as latex paint, motor oil, auto batteries and fluorescent lighting tubes can be placed outside and next to the HHW kit on collection day. Ms. Klein stressed that Denver continues to educate residents by reminding them to reduce the use of household hazardous waste by buying only what they need, use up what they buy, purchase the least environmentally harmful product and share materials with friends, neighbors, churches or community groups.