August 9, 2000 News Release King County's Wastemobile to visit Maple Valley The Environmental Protection Agency's recent tightening of regulations of the widely used insecticide cholorpyrifos, sold as Dursban, has prompted King County to remind citizens to turn all household hazardous waste in to the Wastemobile rather than putting it in the garbage or down the drain. The King County Household Hazardous Wastemobile will be at the Maple Valley Safeway from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 11, 12 and 13 and August 18, 19 and 20. The Wastemobile is available for free disposal of a variety of household products, besides insecticides, including cans of partially used paint, paint thinners, motor oil, car batteries, printing inks. Other common household materials such as mothballs, some flea remedies, nail polish remover, weed killer, chlorine bleach and oven and drain cleaners are also hazardous waste. If disposed of properly, many hazardous household materials are reprocessed or recycled. As much as 25 percent of the hazardous wastes that damage America's drinking water and contaminate the soil come from private homes. It's estimated that each family in the U.S. produces about 15 pounds of hazardous waste a year. King County encourages residents to bring these materials to the Wastemobile rather than putting them in the garbage or down the drain. Several home and garden products contain Dursban. The EPA is concerned about the health risks from exposure to cholorpyrifos, and by the end of 2001, manufacturers must stop producing the chemical for most home use. The EPA is studying the health effects of other insecticides as well. Wastemobile Facts Maple Valley residents dropped off more than 38 tons of hazardous household materials in 1999. More than sixteen million pounds of hazardous materials have been collected from over 216,000 vehicles since the Wastemobile began in 1989. The Wastemobile is the largest household hazardous waste collection system in the nation, according to the Waste Watch Center of Andover, Mass. Residents can drop off their hazardous materials, during operation hours only, at no charge. Maple Valley Safeway is located at 26916 Maple Valley Hwy at Four Corners, the intersection of Maple Valley Hwy and Kent/Kangley Rd (Hwy 516). Site is on the East side of the highway. For more information about the King County Household Hazardous Wastemobile, call the Hazards Line at (206) 296-4692. For a guide to hazardous household materials and least-toxic pest controls visit the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program of King County on-line at http://www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house/. - end -

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