FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 4, 2005

CONTACT:

Nick Breault

Executive Secretary

Town of East Longmeadow

Phone (413) 525-5400 ext. 420

Fax (413) 525-1025

nbreault@eastlongmeadow.org

BOARD OF SELECTMEN ANNOUNCE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE & UNWANTED MEDICATION COLLECTION DAY

The Board of Selectmen today announced that there will be a regional residential HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AND UNWANTED MEDICATION COLLECTION DAY will be held on Saturday September 10, 2005 from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M in Wilbraham at the Minnechaug Regional High School parking lot (enter from Tinkham Road).

The participating communities include East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, and Wilbraham. Each town has a limited number of slots for their residents so appointments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration is required and will take place in each town during the week of September 5^th. Registration details will be released in the coming weeks.

Since volume is important to the billing process, the Board of Selectmen encourages neighbors to pool their hazardous waste so there is a minimum of 7 gallons per car. Unwanted medications do not need to be pooled, and there is no requested minimum volume to participate.

Special features of the collection event will include a propane tank collection, a thermometer exchange and a collection of unwanted medications.

Unwanted medications include prescription, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and pet medications. The medications will be collected for no cost as part of an EPA grant coordinated by the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc. (NERC) and sponsored by the Bay State Medical Center.

Propane tanks (grill size only) will be collected for a small fee. There will also be a thermometer exchange program for those who would like to exchange their mercury thermometer for a new digital one at no charge.

Please note: Latex paint is not a hazardous waste and will not be accepted at this event.

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