Smithtown collects over 37 tons of hazardous waste from town residents
The Town of Smithtown Department of Environment and Waterways, in coordination with the Municipal Services Facility, collected over 37.2 tons of hazardous waste during the annual Earth Day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Saturday, April 26.
A total of 651 households safely disposed of thousands of pounds of toxic materials that cannot be placed in regular curbside pickup, making this collection event one of the most successful to date.
“These free events, held three times a year, give every resident the opportunity to make a meaningful impact—and this year, Smithtown rose to the occasion like never before,” said Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, who expressed his gratitude to residents, service workers, department leaders and staff for their combined efforts.
This year, the town saw record participation in a targeted waste diversion initiative focused on propane tanks, lithium-ion batteries, and mercury-containing devices, demonstrating a growing community commitment to environmental safety and sustainability.
“Participating in the Town’s Hazardous Household Waste collection events profoundly impacts protecting our drinking water, air, and natural resources while enabling the town to maintain high-quality parks, recreational facilities, roads, and waterways for all residents to enjoy,” said Solid Waste Coordinator Michael Engelmann. “We continue to encourage residents to consider using environmentally friendly alternatives in and around the home.”
A special consideration was given to the town’s Department of Public Safety Fire Marshals, DEW staff, and Reworld (formerly Covanta), along with Radiac Environmental Services, the town’s licensed HHW contractor for their notable contributions to the collection event. Reworld distributed over 150 $5 Home Depot gift cards to residents for recycling potentially dangerous lithium-ion and other batteries, propane tanks and mercury containing devices thereby preventing these harmful items from curbside disposal. Additionally, eco-friendly reusable coffee k-cups were provided by DEW to interested residents.
The next household hazardous waste collection events are scheduled for July 12 and Oct. 4. Hazardous Household Waste collection events are for Smithtown Township residents only. The Smithtown Municipal Services Facility is located at 85 Old Northport Road in Kings Park.
