TCOG to offer latex paint recycling and household hazardous waste collection in Bonham

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TCOG to offer latex paint recycling and household hazardous waste collection in Bonham

News Release
For Immediate Release

TCOG to offer latex paint recycling and household hazardous waste collection in Bonham

SHERMAN, MAY 6, 2021 – Officials with Texoma Council of Governments have announced an appointment-only Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event on Saturday, June 5, 2021 that will take place in Bonham at the Fannin County Multipurpose Center. Collection will begin at 9:00 am and end at 1:00 pm.

Although there are no year-round HHW collection facilities in Texoma, TCOG is the recipient of grant funds from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) which allows the organization to offer regular collection events throughout the region.

“Historically, we have held these collection events simultaneously in all three counties every other year,” stated Sean Norton, Public Information & Media Manager for TCOG. “After careful consideration and deliberation by the Natural Resources Advisory Committee, we determined that by shifting our focus to smaller collection events we can reduce costs & wait time, and increase value by offering them more frequently. We have already held two events this year; one in Cooke County and one in Grayson County.”

HHW is defined by the EPA as leftover household products that are toxic, corrosive, or can catch fire, react, or explode. Products such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients that require special care when storing and disposing. If stored or disposed of improperly, these products can present health risks to children, pets, the general public, and the environment. Certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers or damage landfill liners, septic tanks, and wastewater treatment systems.

“Our program planner also identified an increased demand for paint disposal,” Norton said. “So we have created and incorporated a latex paint recycling program into the HHW collection events.”

Up to twenty gallons of latex paint per participant will be accepted. This added service will require participants to separate oil and latex paints before dropping off.

“During our event in 2019, we collected over 38,000 lbs. of latex paint,” explained Catherine Krantz, TCOG’s Municipal Solid Waste program planner. “We have already collected 8,870 lbs. this year so far. If you have any latex paint to dispose of, be sure to bring it to Bonham on June 5th.”

Other acceptable items collected at the event include limited quantities of household hazardous waste (pesticides, household chemicals, motor oil, oil paint, etc.) and electronics (computers, printers, TVs, phones, appliances, etc.). A complete list of acceptable and restricted items is available on TCOG’s website.

Any Texoma resident can participate in the event at no cost, but pre-registration is required. By scheduling an appointment, participants won’t have to wait in line for more than a few minutes at a time that is convenient to them. To schedule an appointment, visit TCOG’s website at www.tcog.com.

“If Bonham is too far of a drive, we plan to have another HHW collection event in Grayson County in October of this year.”

For questions and additional information about household hazardous waste or additional disposal options in the region, contact Catherine Krantz at (903) 893-2161 ext. 3565.

The Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson counties. Established in 1968, Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Both directly and through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.