RIRRC Announces Extended Hours at Central Landfill & Additional HHW Drop-offs

RIRRC Announces Extended Hours at Central Landfill & Additional HHW Drop-offs

Effort to assist Rhode Island residents with quick disposal from recent floods

JOHNSTON, R.I. (April 1, 2010) –  Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation today announced that it will extend operating hours at the Central Landfill on all Saturdays in April to accommodate residents who wish to drive sodden materials to the landfill for disposal.

“We expect that people will want to get rid of soaked and damaged goods as quickly as possible,” said Michael O’Connell, executive director of RIRRC.  “They still have the option to leave all their bulky waste at the curb if they have curbside collection.  For those who want to drive it to Johnston, we have extended hours for them.”

RIRRC allows residents to dispose waste and recycling at the small vehicle area at its headquarters located at 65 Shun Pike.  Vehicles must stop at the scale house first to be weighed, and then be directed to the drop-off area.   As they exit, they must cross the scales again to be weighed a second time, and the amount owed will be based on the tonnage delivered.  Normal fees and acceptance guidance will apply.  The minimum fee is $23 for the first 550 pounds of residential waste, and the fee will increase as the weight increases.

The extended hours are:

• Saturday, April 3:  Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, April 10:  Open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 17:  Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, April 24:  Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Friday landfill hours remain at 6 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Residents who have curbside collection still have the option to leave their garbage and bulky waste curbside for normal pick-up on regular trash day, and should check with their city or town to see if a special collection for flood debris has been arranged.

The corporation has also added more household hazardous waste collections during April as well.    RIRRC’s Eco-Depot disposes of household hazardous wastes (HHW) properly and safely.  Examples of common HHW include oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, motor oil, gasoline, fertilizers, pesticides, antifreeze, pool chemicals, turpentine, muriatic acid, fireworks, fire extinguishers, and any product that has a warning label.

The updated April collection dates and locations are:

• April 3 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., at 1168 Flat River Road, Coventry
• April 10 from 8 a.m. – noon, Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston
• April 17 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Second Beach, Middletown
• April 17 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston
• April 24 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Jenks Jr. High, Pawtucket
• April 24 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Block Island

This free service is for Rhode Island residents only.

“Household hazardous waste cannot be placed in regular trash and the safest way to dispose of it is through Eco-Depot,” said Mike OConnell, executive director of RIRRC.   “If the products are no longer useful because they were destroyed or altered by the flooding, you should get to one of the Eco-Depot collections and get rid of the materials.”

RIRRC warns residents to use caution when handling and transporting materials to Eco-Depot.   Some products can cause reactions if they are combined with other hazardous products so it’s best to keep the HHW in original containers.  Line your vehicle floor with newspaper and put bunched up newspaper between different HHW products.

For more information about what qualifies for HHW collections, directions, collection dates, and handling instructions, visit the Eco-Depot page on www.rirrc.org or call

942-1430 x 241.

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state’s recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.