City holding household hazardous waste collection day

With the Christmas decorations put away for another year, perhaps Yumans' thoughts have turned to cleaning out some of the clutter that has stacked up in their garages and storage areas, stuff like leftover paint, used motor oil or an old computer that was replaced by a new one under the tree.

Rather than dump such items in the trash to be taken to the landfill, area residents are encouraged to bring them to the quarterly household hazardous waste collection for recycling or safe disposal.

The collection day will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the city of Yuma North Public Works Yard, 265 W. 13th St. (13th Street between 4th Avenue and 1st Avenue).

This free environmental program is open to all city of Yuma and Yuma County residents at no charge for safe disposal of no-longer-wanted corrosive, flammable, toxic or reactive materials.

It is sponsored by the city of Yuma, city of Somerton and Yuma County.

The event is only for the collection of hazardous waste used in a person's home, vehicle, garden or yard.

No business or commercial waste will be accepted, nor will large household appliances, explosives, ammunition, pressurized gas or radioactive waste.

Items accepted at Saturday's drop-off include motor oil, antifreeze, paint, solvents, household cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, batteries or tires (limit five per household; must be off the rim).

Residents also may bring in electronic waste items such as discarded home computer components, television sets, VCRs and DVD players, cell phones and home phones.

In addition, residents may bring items to be recycled, including aluminum cans, cardboard, paper, plastics and documents and other shredded papers.

And if someone still has a natural Christmas tree to dispose of, they will be accepted at the household hazardous collection day.

In addition to the quarterly collection day, recycling bins remain available year-round for residents to drop off aluminum cans, metal items, cardboard, paper and clear plastic. The bins — at 13th Street and 2nd Avenue and at 45th Avenue and 17th Street — are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to all Yuma County residents.