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It's time to get rid of that toxic trash in the garage By DAVID PRESZLER Bring your old paint, your pool chemicals and other hazardous waste of which your garage is yearning to be free. The waste haulers of Southern Oregon will hold their annual household hazardous waste drop--off Friday and Saturday at the Jackson County Expo. Toxic Day particulars What: Household Hazardous Waste Drop--off When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday Where: Jackson County Expo Park, Central Point Cost: Minimum charge of $5 covers the first cubic yard (about six 32--gallon trash cans) of waste Accepted waste: pesticides, insecticides, pool chemicals, fluorescent light ballasts, weed killers, lead paint, latex paint, oil--based paint, paint removers and wood preservatives. Waste not accepted: fluorescent tubes (can be recycled at White City transfer station), medical or biological waste, explosives, radioactive materials, ammunition, commercial or industrial waste, asbestos, propane tanks, fire extinguishers and metal cannisters. Motor oil and auto batteries (will be accepted at White City transfer station). The event, in its ninth year, offers residents the chance to safely -- and legally -- get rid of unwanted waste that isn't accepted at the landfill. "Hopefully by offering an affordable opportunity to get rid of it properly, it will encourage people," says Rogue Disposal and Recycling's Denise Wolgamott, one of the event's organizers. A variety of household waste will be accepted for $5, which covers the first six 32--gallon trash cans' worth. The fee is essentially a co--pay, since officials estimate that each carload of waste costs about $100 to dispose of. This year's event also will feature a free re--use table, giving people the chance to take items others have discarded. Items available last year included a variety of paints, pesticides, insecticides, pool chemicals and cleaners. "We got so many different products last year," says Wolgamott. "We got such a great response last year." The drop--off event has grown extremely popular. Last year, it drew a record response: 1,041 vehicles dropped off 78,903 pounds of waste. Rogue Disposal, Southern Oregon Sanitation, Ashland Sanitary and Grants Pass Sanitary are sponsoring the event along with Jackson and Josephine counties and several Rogue Valley cities. The event is expected to draw people from throughout the region. "We get people from as far away as Merlin and Cave Junction," says Wolgamott. About 20 workers from Vancouver--based Onyx Environmental will be on hand to sort the waste. Some waste products will be incinerated and the rest will be shipped to various disposal facilities, depending on the type of waste. On Friday, business owners whose companies generate less than 220 pounds or 25 gallons of hazardous waste a month can dispose of it at the expo. The business drop--offs are by appointment only. The fees are higher and vary depending on the type and amount of waste being dropped off. For an application and appointment, call Wolgamott at 830--5617 before the event. Common waste for businesses could include parts--washer solvents, paint--gun cleaners, dry--cleaning solvents, paint thinners and strippers, paints, inks, mercury, photographic fixers, plating wastes, fertilizers and laboratory chemical wastes. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA