fall cleanup cropped
September 17, 2020

Solid Waste Authority Offers Cleanup Tips For End Of Summer

As the summer season comes to an end, many of us begin cleaning up our yards and home to prepare for the cold weather months ahead.

The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (Authority) would like to remind residents on the proper disposal of propane tanks and cylinders as well as provide residents with a Fall Cleanup Disposal Guide.

Propane tanks and cylinders of all sizes should never be placed in the recycling bin or disposed of in the regular garbage. Residents can deliver propane tanks and cylinders sized between 1 lb to 100 lbs at either the EcoDrop Utica or EcoDrop Rome locations for recycling, at no charge.

“Because propane tanks are pressurized, they pose a safety hazard at Recycling Centers and Landfills. Our EcoDrop locations accept these tanks and cylinders year-round at no charge to residents, and provide an opportunity for these items to be safely recycled and kept out of the waste stream,” stated Samantha Brown, Authority Recycling Coordinator.

The Authority offers the following guidelines to assist with Fall cleanups.

EcoDrop Utica

80 Leland Ave. Extension, Utica, NY

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Friday:      8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Saturday:                7:00 am – 2:00 pm

EcoDrop Rome

575 Perimeter Road, Rome, NY

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Friday:     8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Saturday:                8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Please note that Household Hazardous Waste (i.e. paints, chemicals, fertilizers) is accepted April 1st – September 30th each year and is only accepted at the Leland Ave facility in Utica. The last day Household Hazardous Waste will be accepted is Wednesday, September 30th, 2020.

The Authority encourages reuse before disposal. There are various locations and organizations in Oneida and Herkimer Counties that accept used items as a donation for reuse or recycling. Please visit www.ohswa.org for a list of organizations and acceptable items.

“Many items you may encounter while cleaning up this Fall are recyclable, but due to safety concerns, they must be delivered to our facilities. This includes items such as paints, chemicals, propane tanks and bulky rigid plastics,” stated Samantha Brown, Authority Recycling Coordinator. “The quality of recyclables plays a major role in the success of recycling programs, so it is important to follow guidelines and dispose of waste properly while cleanups take place across the region,” she continued.

If you are not sure how to properly recycle or dispose of an item, the Authority encourages residents to visit its easy-to-use tool at www.AmIRecyclable.com to search hundreds of different items and learn all the answers.

For more information on recycling and proper waste disposal, please visit www.ohswa.org or contact (315) 733-1224. You may also ask questions and find more information on the Authority’s Facebook page (Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority).