Groundwater Conservation District urges support for upcoming waste collection

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The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District is the title sponsor for the upcoming Burnet County Household Hazardous Waste Collection.

The event is scheduled 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Burnet County Reuse and Recycle Center, 2411 FM 963, about two miles east of U.S. 281.

“I encourage all (Burnet County) residents to take advantage of the free opportunity to safely dispose of hazardous materials that could otherwise pose a threat to their drinking water,” says District General Manager Mitchell Sodek.

District officials offer several reasons why Burnet County residents ought to participate in the collection:

• More than 50 % of Burnet County residents are dependent on the use of groundwater for their homes.

 

• One gallon of used motor oil can contaminate 1 million gallons of water.

 

• Burnet County contains the Ellenburger-San Saba, Granite, Granite Gavel, Hickory, Marble Falls and Trinity aquifers. Each aquifer has a recharge area that is a direct feed for water, which is vulnerable to contaminants.

 

• Recycling waste helps the district preserve groundwater quality. Otherwise, it is difficult and very expensive to clean contaminated groundwater.

Other notable sponsors include the cities of Bertram, Burnet, Cottonwood Shores, Granite Shoals, Highland Haven, Horseshoe Bay, Marble Falls, Meadowlakes, the Lower Colorado River Authority and local firms Leigh Hanson Inc. and Spicewood Crushed Stone.

County officials are willing to accept a long list of household hazardous items for possible reuse or recycle, including batteries, used motor oil and oil filters, latex paint, oil-based paint, anti-freeze, light bulbs, gasoline, small electronics and scrap metal.

The collection is limited to items donated only by Burnet County residents. No commercial or industrial waste products will be accepted, including appliances, console televisions, containers larger than five gallons, lawn mowers, mattresses, medical and pharmaceutical items, no trash, no garbage, nor automobile tires with rims.

To be sure, tires 24 inches or less will be accepted. One batch of 10 tires can be donated at no charge, but $3 will be charged per any number of tires above one batch of 10 tires. Again, no tires with rims.