F

Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful will be sponsoring a Community Spring Cleanup at the Hamblen County Landfill on Sublet Rd. Saturday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

This event will include BOPAE items, such as automotive and rechargeable batteries, used oil, antifreeze, and electronics. Fluorescent light bulbs will also be accepted at this time. Water-based paint is not included; the state now advises residents to simply let the paint dry completely and put it in with regular trash.

Last year, 104 pounds of batteries, 630 gallons of oil, 6 tons of paint and more than 3 tons of electronics, were collected at the spring event.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will be collecting Household Hazardous Waste. Hazardous waste is any unwanted or spent household product that can catch fire easily. They will accept household cleaners such as, drain cleaners and disinfectants, home maintenance chemicals such as, paint thinner, lawn and garden chemicals such as, pesticides and fertilizer, automotive additives such as, grease and rust solvents. They will also accept pool chemicals. Medical needles will be accepted but they must be in a container.

TDEC no longer accepts oil-based paints. They will not accept ammunition, explosives, medical waste, radioactive material or any items from a school, commercial business, or agri-business. At this event last year, TDEC collected 1,568 pounds of hazardous waste.

There will be a paper shredding service available again this year. Last year 3,000 pounds of paper were shredded.

On the day of the event, load unwanted materials into your trunk or truck bed. Do not mix materials, keep in the original containers, double package any leaking containers, and place breakable containers in a box, cushioned with newspaper. At the Landfill you will be directed to the drop off points for your items. Volunteer will unload the items from your vehicle.

Again, this year Hamblen County and KMHB are allowing tires to be dropped off at no charge. The tire drop of is for Hamblen County Residents only, no businesses, and proof of residence is required. License plates will be checked if you do not have a Hamblen County license bring something that shows you own property in Hamblen County.

KMHB is now sponsoring two free tire days each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. The purpose of these days is to give landowners an opportunity to dispose of tires that have been dumped on their property. With the cost of tire disposal, illegal dumping has become a problem in Hamblen County. The free tire day is only for car and small truck tires, anyone bringing farm equipment or semi-truck tires will be charged a fee. More than 60 tons of tires were collected last year.

BOPAE and hazardous waste can be accepted from other counties but only Hamblen County residents can drop off tires.