ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning is joining with partners to offer Erie County households a free way to clean out their garages and basements this fall, by registering to take part in two upcoming recycling events in September. A Paint Only collection is being held on September 14th in the Town of Hamburg and a Household Hazardous Waste (“HHW”) collection in the City of Buffalo on September 28. Both collection events are free, but pre-registration is required.

Registration can be completed by making an online reservation by visiting www.erie.gov/recycling or by calling the HHW Information Line at (716) 858-6800. Appointments are limited and will be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The specific location for both events will be provided during the registration process.

The September 14th Paint-Only Collection is sponsored by GreenSheen, a company that makes new eco-friendly paint from recycled paint. Erie County encourages residents to pack up their car with any quantity of latex and oil-based paints. Stains, shellacs, lacquers, sealers, varnishes, and urethanes will also be accepted at this event. Note, no household hazardous waste will be collected at this event, only paint.

The City of Buffalo partners with Erie County to provide the site and staffing assistance for the HHW collection event being held on September 28th. Residents are afforded the opportunity to properly dispose of many types of hazardous household materials such as most household chemicals, pesticides, motor oil and gasoline and all types of paints, and batteries. A complete list of acceptable materials is available at https://www3.erie.gov/recycling/household-hazardous-waste-hhw-collection-programs .

Residents not able to bring materials to one of these collections can utilize the year-round option of the County’s HHW Voucher Drop-off Program that allows residents to register to bring up to 50 pounds of eligible hazardous waste to a private facility in Tonawanda at no cost. Pre-registration for that service is required and can be done either by visiting www.erie.gov/recycling or by calling (716) 998-8073.