MAHONING COUNTY Have hazardous materials? Take them to the Green Team

The group has set up specific times for drop-offs.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Almost every home has them -- old oil-based paints, pesticides and other hazardous materials. Responsible Mahoning County residents want to get rid of them, yet they know dumping them down the drain or in the trash will harm the environment.
Now residents can recycle these items in an environmentally responsible way at The Green Team's annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday at the Canfield Fairgrounds dairy barn area. To get there, enter the fairgrounds via Gate 9, off state Route 46.
A feature of this year's event is a free medical thermometer exchange. While supplies last, anyone who brings an old-style mercury medical thermometer for recycling will receive a new digital medical thermometer at no cost (limit one per family).
Because of the high volume of participation, residents are asked to bring their items during the specific hours indicated based on their last names. With the exception of the items listed below, most types of household hazardous wastes will be accepted.
Whom to call
Residents with questions about the acceptability of a specific item may call The Green Team at (330) 740-2060 or visit the Web site at www.greenteam.cc.
Those with last names beginning with A-F should bring their items from 9-11 a.m.; G-N from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and O-Z from 1-3 p.m.
Examples of accepted items: oil-based paints, varnishes, thinners, pesticides, motor oil, gasoline, other fuels, propane tanks, lead acid batteries, etc.
Items not accepted: latex paints, explosives, ammunition, tires, scrap metal, etc.
For latex and water-based paints in cans that are a third-full or less, homeowners should take paint cans outdoors, remove lids and allow paint to harden completely.
The Green Team says place the cans, without lids, in the trash (trash haulers will not accept paint cans with lids, since they must be able to see that the paint is completely hardened).