Veolia Continues to Support Cities with Sustainable Solutions for Household Hazardous Wastes
http://www.veolianorthamerica.com
NEW YORK, April 24, 2014 – Veolia is again supporting one of the world’ largest household hazardous waste collection efforts – the New York City Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) NYC SAFE Disposal Events. In each of New York City’s boroughs, all household hazardous waste (HHW) collected will be recycled or disposed of by Veolia at one of its facilities.
The NYC SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables and Electronics) Disposal Events will kick off on Saturday, April 26 in Queens. NYC Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia encourages residents to drop off any HHW that fall under the SAFE categories for proper recycling and disposal. “NYC residents should bring products such as pesticides, strong cleaners, mercury-containing devices, paints, oils, electronics, and medications to this year’s SAFE Disposal Events,” said Garcia.
Veolia will provide environmental specialists, equipment, material and support to properly manage the HHW collected during the events. The majority of materials collected will be recycled. Some liquid wastes will be blended for fuel. Depending on waste properties, a small percent may be incinerated.
“We’ve been assisting DSNY with their NYC SAFE Disposal Events since its inception, and we couldn’t be more proud to bring our expertise to the service of New York City in an effort to intercept hazardous substances from landfills,” said Steve Hopper, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Veolia North America’s Industrial Business. “These events are a great way for all New Yorkers to make a positive contribution to the environment that will have a lasting effect.”
In 2013, the event resulted in more than 350,000 pounds of HHW collected, which went straight to Veolia’s recycling and treatment facilities. By employing innovative recycling and reclamation processes, Veolia turned these wastes into reusable byproducts, aiding the sustainability of the earth’s resources.
In addition, every other month Veolia removes 20,000 to 30,000 pounds of household hazardous waste from the permanent collections locations in New York City.
The five SAFE events will be held at the following locations from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.:
- Queens – Cunningham Park: Saturday, April 26
- Brooklyn – McCarren Park, Bedford Ave: Sunday, May 4
- Bronx – Orchard Beach Parking Lot: Saturday, May 10
- Manhattan – Union Square, North Plaza Sunday, May 11
- Staten Island – Midland Beach Parking Lot Saturday, May 17
Veolia has helped over 2,500 communities across the United States organize, promote and implement convenient HHW collection programs to assure that these wastes are managed safely and in the most environmentally responsible manner. In addition to working with the City of New York, Veolia has provided HHW services for Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Milwaukee, and in 2013 the company collected over 7,600 tons of HHW overall.
For more information on the NYC SAFE Disposal Events, visit www.nyc.gov/safedisposal or http://www.veolianorthamerica.com.