Toxic Disposal Day to Be Held Monthly

City residents will have an opportunity Friday and Saturday to dispose of their household hazardous materials, including everything from paint and antifreeze to aerosol cans and motor oil.

Residents must call MSE Environmental Inc. at 987-0217 for an appointment to drop off toxic materials between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at a site between Camarillo Airport and the Ventura Freeway.

Drop-offs are limited to 15 gallons or 120 pounds per household.

The City Council last month approved a contract with MSE Environmental, allowing it to serve as the city’s household hazardous waste disposal company the first Friday and Saturday of each month until June, when its contract will be up for renewal.

Prior to the contract with MSE, residents had to wait for an annual household hazardous materials roundup.

Residential refuse customers already contribute 25 cents each month toward funding the previous household hazardous waste service, which had been provided by the Ventura County Solid Waste Management Department for the last three years. This amount will not increase with the new service.

The city will pay MSE Environmental $25 for each resident who drops off waste to cover the cost of the company’s labor and materials and then up to an additional $42 for toxic waste that requires special disposal methods.

Although MSE’s costs are about $3,000 higher than those paid for last year’s event, the company will provide all appointment scheduling services, which will save the city a minimum of $5,000 in staffing costs, city officials say. Last year’s event cost $50,515 and attracted 797 participants.

MSE will recycle 75% of all the waste received during collection events. Almost all of the remaining 25% will be incinerated at out-of-state locations.