Saturday is STOP Day, or Stop Throwing Out Pollutants Day, in East Hampton Town.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can take hazardous materials found in the average residence to the Montauk transfer station at 365 Montauk Highway. Through safe, environmentally sound disposal, residents can make a significant contribution to the protection of groundwater and waterways.
Acceptable items for disposal include aerosol cans, ammonia, antifreeze, household batteries, bleach, insect and rodent poisons, chemistry sets, degreasers, disinfectants, drain cleaners, fertilizers with herbicides, single-use fire extinguishers, flammable liquids, kerosene, lacquers, oil-based paints, oven cleaners, paint strippers and thinners, brush cleaners, photography chemicals, polishes and wood preservatives, solvents, spot removers, swimming pool chemicals, thermostats containing mercury, varnish, and weed killers.
Those taking the above items to the transfer station have been asked to wrap leaking containers in newspaper and place them in a plastic bag or larger container, ensure that caps and lids are tight, place items securely in a box for transportation, use newspaper or cardboard to keep items from tipping or hitting each other, and place chemicals that may react with each other in separate areas of the vehicle.
Products should not be left in a hot, unventilated vehicle for an extended length of time. Those taking pollutants to the transfer station should not smoke near chemical products, and rubber gloves should be worn when handling containers.
