The City Environmental Services Department’s recent bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Tire Round-Up event took in 9,415 pounds of household hazardous waste, 1,472 used tires, 350 gallons of used oil, 220 used oil filters, and 88 used batteries.

"Consider this a mitigation of those things ending up on the watershed, in the creeks, and in the river," said ESD director Riazul Mia. "Though the numbers are lower for what was collected than last year’s collection, it’s nonetheless a very significant effort."

Tires for Cash was initiated in the household waste collection in December 2000 and has proved to be one of the collection items that most benefits the cityscape by removing illegally dumped tires from vacant lots and creeks. According to City public information officer Blasita Lopez, the collection of discarded tires and their subsequent shredding at the City landfill eliminate a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Among the volunteers who have consistently ensured the success of the bi-annual collection are the United High School AFJROTC, the City of Laredo, the Non-profit and Volunteer Center, and volunteers from El Metro, the Environmental Services Department, Public Works, and the City’s Traffic Department.

Southern Distributors is a corporate sponsor of the event.

The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection is scheduled for November 2002.