It’s been five years since county officials first partnered with a Cochranton-based firm to bring a household hazardous waste recycling event to Warren County.

The program has collected 131.7 tons of material since its inception.

So the effort continues this weekend in what is the third event this year set to be held at the Warren County School District central office at 6280 Market St., Russell.

It will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The county contracts with ECS&R, a recycling firm headquartered out of Cochranton, to provide the service.

Pre-registration is required for the event and those interested are directed to register at ecsr.net or call (866) 815-0016.

County Planner Dan Glotz explained that the largest event was the first one held at the Warren Mall.

“Since then, we have held 13 additional collection events, three per year,” he said, with the exception of a COVID-19 cancellation in April 2020.

“I thought that the numbers would eventually drop over time. But that doesn’t seem to be the case,” he said. “133 households participated at our April event and 116 participated at our July event.”

He explained that a grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection allows organizers to charge only 50 percent of the cost to the users with the grant covering the remaining 50 percent.

“The fees charged cover the cost of the crew that we bring in to handle the event,” he added.

The WCSD has partnered with the county to allow the events to be held at district facilities — Sheffield in April, Youngsville High School in July and Central Office in October. That’s a convenient way to spread the events around to various parts of the county, he said.

“We intend to continue as long as the need is there and the DEP Grant Program remains in place,” Glotz said.

The cost for utilizing the service is set on a per pound basis and depends on what one is looking to recycle — $2 per pound for household hazardous waste, $1.50 for bulbs and batteries, $.40 for all non-CRT devices, $.60 for tube and CRT televisions and monitors, $.70 for small freon containing devices and $.75 cents per pound for paint.

There’s a flat fee of $4 per propane tank recycled.

The county offers some guidance on what is and is not recyclable at this event.

“Electronics” includes computers and peripherals, televisions, printers, microwaves, CD and tape players, copiers, fax machines, cell phones, telephones, laptops, VCR and DVD players, phone systems, dehumidifiers and air conditioners.

Household hazardous waste includes things like cleaning products, aerosols, pool chemicals, paint, wood/metal cleaners and polish, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, propane tanks, driveway sealer, stain, paint stripper, batteries, light bulbs, oil, fuel additives, transmission/brake fluid, antifreeze, degreasers, car wax, bleach, lye, indoor pesticides, flea repellant, bug sprays, mouse and rat poisons and strychnine.

Items that can’t be accepted include medical waste, radioactive material, tires, syringes, ammunition, explosives and large appliances.