Household hazmat changes coming

SANDPOINT — Bonner County Solid Waste will no longer be accepting household hazardous waste at its collection sites on a daily basis starting July 7.

County officials said the county’s current hazardous waste program does not meet the requirement of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality or standards established by the National Fire Protection Association, which exposes Bonner County to risk and liabilities.

Starting July 7, Clean Harbors Environmental Services will set up on sites from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to collect on a rotating Saturday schedule.

“The new household collection procedure will bring Bonner County into compliance with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, National Fire Protection Association and the Environmental Protection Agency,” the county said in a statement.

Houshold hazardous waste will be transported out of Bonner County at the end of each Saturday and disposed of in accordance with EPA regulations.

“We apologize for the inconvenience of not allowing the daily collection,” the county’s statement said.

Bonner County Solid Waste Director Bob Howard said the Occupational Safety & Health Administration requires site attendants to have 40 hours of Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response, which would cost approximately $800 per person.

“We would need to train 22 site attendants. Also, a $300-per-year refresher course would be required,” said Howard.

Moreover, the NFPA requires special secondary containment and storage and chemical separation by category, which would require new facilities at 11 sites, Howard added.

Household hazard waste includes paints, adhesives, solvents, epoxies, varnishes, corrosive liquids, intact fluorescent light bulbs, mercury, aerosols, antifreeze, coolants, batteries, fuels and photograph developing chemicals.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.