Ear to the ground:

“Do you want a cat?”
“Only slightly more than herpes.”
– Recent exchange between someone looking to get rid of a cat and someone with cat allergies

Household hazards

It’s one of the biggest days in Durango, right after Halloween and the start of ski season: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. But before you load up the back of the Subaru with a small artillery of half-used paint cans from a bygone kitchen project, be forewarned. Latex paint will not be accepted this year.

Never fear, however. Those old remnants of Navajo White and Robin’s Egg Blue can be properly recycled next year under the newly minted Colorado Paint Stewardship Program. Signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper last June, the law requires paint manufacturers to establish a paint stewardship program in Colorado. Local household hazardous waste programs that participate can save money on paint management costs through funds from a “PaintCare Recovery Fee” applied to architectural paint sold in Colorado starting July 1, 2015.

If July seems too long to wait, small quantities of paint (less than a quarter of a can) can be disposed of in the trash by first letting the paint dry outdoors. Once dry, the paint can be thrown away – just remember to leave the lid off so the trash hauler can see the paint is dry.

 For more than a quarter of a can, paint can be mixed with kitty litter or another clay-based absorbent in a plastic tray, bucket or a box lined with a plastic trash bag until the mixture is moist, but not dripping. Then, set the mixture outdoors to dry, wrap in a trash bag and throw away. This method can be repeated for larger amounts.

Some paint and hardware stores also sell a product that will dry paint in the can.

For all other standard household hazardous materials, the City of Durango and La Plata County will host their annual collection on Sat., Oct. 4, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. 

For the record, household wastes are considered “hazardous” if they burn easily, corrode or irritate the skin, have the potential to generate heat or explode, or are poisonous. Strangely enough, this does not include actual explosives, which will not be accepted, or electronics, which can be recycled at the City Recycling Center for a fee.

Despite the latex-paint ban, all other types of paint, including oil-based and varnishes, will be accepted. Although these services are provided at a subsidized rate, there will be fees for recycling hazardous waste this year, as follows:

Only cash or checks will be accepted and commercial quantities of hazardous waste will only be accepted on Friday. For more information, go to www.durangogov.org or call the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Services at 375-5004.

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