Warren County is hosting a drive-through recycling event next month.

The event, specifically targeting household hazardous waste, is set for Youngsville High School on Thursday, July 14, from 3-7 p.m. County officials have typically coordinated three events per year but a change in recycling firm has forced the limited offering this year.

“The company we’ve used in the past, ECS&R, has gone out of business,” County Planner Dan Glotz said.

“The company that we have contracted with for the July event, Noble Environmental Specialty, is from the Pittsburgh area,” he said.

Given the travel time, the duration of the event and time needed to load, the event is a two-day commitment for the company.

“Rather than not hold any events this year, NES suggested we try a weekday that would include afternoon and early evening collection hours,” Glotz said. “If it is successful we will schedule multiple events in 2023 at various locations.”

Even though the day of the week will change, the data shows that the recycling events are meeting in a need in the county.

“Last year we collected 27.5 tons of recyclables over the course of the three separate events,” Glotz said. “We averaged 120 households per event.”

There are fees for each type of item to be collected: 35 cents per pound for freon containing devices, 45 cents per pound for non-video display electronics, 65 cents per pound for televisions and monitors, 80 cents per pound for waste paint, 90 cents per pound for universal waste such as bulbs and batteries, $1.10 per pound for household hazardous waste and $7 each for propane cylinders.

Household hazardous waste items that can be accepted include, among others, paint/workshop products, automotive products, cleaning products, lawn and garden products, pesticides, car/household batteries, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and flammables.

Accepted electronic and freon waste items include TVs, computers, printers, phones, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, mini-fridges, microwaves and laptops.

Items that are prohibited include explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials, large appliances, pharmaceuticals, syringes, medical waste, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, mercury-containing devices, compressed gas and tires.

There aren’t many other options in the county for disposal of these types of items.

“Disposal opportunities are limited here in the county,” Glotz said. “Mortenson Recycling on Route 69 does collect some hard-to-recycle materials but it is advisable to contact them in advance for hours of operation and items that are accepted.”

Registration for the July event is required and is available online at nobleenviro.com/e-waste-and-hhw/ or by phone at (412) 567-6566.