Time to get rid of household wastes -- safely and free

Saturday is the annual opportunity to get rid of hazardous waste from around the house -- tires, batteries, used oil, old paint cans and the like -- without having to pay a disposal fee or sneaking out into the night and dumping it somewhere.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is being held by the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission at the recycling centers in Eunice and in Opelousas.
The Eunice center is located at 450 North C.C. Duson and collection will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Only St. Landry Parish residents are eligible to take advantage of the service and citizens will have to show proof of residency before being allowed to drop off materials.
Suggested proof is a driver’s license, water bill, state id or other positive proof of residency.
Residents can bring everything from bleach, used oil, transmission fluids, aerosols, paints and household and automobile batteries to the center.
And they can get ride of antifreeze, household chemicals, pesticides, flammables, corrosives, medications, fluorescent tubes and bulbs and electronic waste such as computers, monitors, scanners and the like. Cell phones and cell phone batteries can also be disposed of.
Officials note there is a limit of five tires per person.
Additionally, residents can drop off such recyclables as cans, glass, paper and plastic.
There are some things that are not allowed.
They include ammunition, flares, medical wastes, biological and radioactive materials, gas or propane cylinders, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and any kinds of explosives.
Officials caution that Saturday’s collection is for residential households only. Large quantities from businesses, farms or commercial operations will not be accepted.
Information: the recycling center at 942-9576 or the solid waste district office at 826-5211.