The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District will hold its annual household hazardous waste collection on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Greenfield Community College and the Orange Transfer Station.
Residents and businesses must register by Sept. 10. Online registration for the 2025 household hazardous waste collection is live at franklincountywastedistrict.org. Mail-in registration forms are also available at participating town transfer stations, town halls and in advertisements in the Greenfield Recorder.
Participants will be assigned an appointment time to come to one of the waste collections. An appointment time and instructions will be provided by mail after the registration is processed.
Businesses may also participate but must pay for disposal costs. For business registration information, call 413-772-2438.
The participating towns are Athol, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Rowe, Royalston, Shelburne, Warwick, Wendell and Whately. For residents of these towns, the collection event is free. Barre and Sunderland residents may also participate, but must pay.
According to the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, the event provides an opportunity to dispose of hazardous items that should not be put in the trash, such as leftover oil-based paints, stains, thinners, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, motor oil, antifreeze, household cleaners and other household chemicals. A more complete list of acceptable items can be found at franklincountywastedistrict.org.
Batteries and mercury-containing items such as fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers and thermostats will not be accepted at this collection. These items, which may contain mercury or heavy metals, should never be put in the trash or recycling. Instead, they should be taken to a municipal transfer station, where they should be handed to the attendant. Additionally, the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District advises that fluorescent light bulbs are accepted at Lowe’s stores (all types of fluorescents) and Home Depot (CFLs only). Staples stores accept most types of batteries for recycling.
For more information, visit franklincountywastedistrict.org or contact the district at info@franklincountywastedistrict.org or 413-772-2438.