WTI to accept hazardous waste

LISBON — Columbiana County residents can get rid of their household hazardous wastes — and get a snack.

Waste Technologies Industries, a hazardous waste incinerator in East Liverpool, will collect wastes in the courthouse parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The company is running the collection as part of a settlement in 2006 with regulators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

WTI says it was operating properly but it will pay more than $750,000 to settle the claims. The dispute was not over the operation of the incinerator itself but over emissions from chemicals that were in storage while awaiting incineration. There was no evidence of anyone hurt by the emissions, and WTI denied any wrongdoing.

People can bring bleaches, pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, paints and solvents, batteries, oil and antifreeze, computers, monitors, televisions and cell phones.

Residents can also bring up to four used tires.

The collection will not take commercial or business waste, mercury, asbestos, lithium batteries, explosives, ammunition, and medical, infectious or radioactive waste.

People will have to show identification with a photo in order to drop off material.

WTI urged people to wrap leaky waste containers with plastic.

WTI also said that people should never eat, drink or smoke while handling the materials.

But after people drop off the items, Columbiana County Commissioner Penny Traina said she and county Treasurer Nick Barborak will be offering people a hot dog and soda.