Washington, DC - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Department of Public Works Director William O. Howland, Jr. announced today the District will open its first permanent free, weekly Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and electronic recycling (e-cycling) drop-off site, at the Benning Road Trash Transfer Station, 3200 Benning Road, NE, on Saturday, May 17. In addition to the HHW and e-cycling collections, the District will also offer the metropolitan area’s first permanent weekly document shredding service for residents at the Benning Road Trash Transfer Station beginning Saturday, May 24.

“I want to commend Director Howland and his staff for accelerating their schedule to bring this facility on-line a month sooner than planned,” said Mayor Fenty. “This site is not only a great value to the residents of the District of Columbia, but the environment as well.”

“Weekly collection sites mean residents can get rid of dangerous household waste and unwanted electronics faster, which will keep our environment and drinking water safer,” said DPW Director Howland.  “In the age of identity theft, shredding will help give residents some peace of mind.  It also is a safe alternative to throwing away personal information, which can lead to identity theft.”

All electronics will be broken down into parts and recycled or disposed of safely. Computers and hard drives will be wiped clean three times using US Department of Defense high-level security wiping procedures.

• Acceptable - HHW items include leftover cleaning and gardening chemicals, small quantities of gasoline, pesticides and poisons, mercury thermometers, paint, solvents, spent batteries of all kinds, antifreeze, chemistry sets, automotive fluids, and asbestos tiles. 

• Unacceptable - Items include ammunition, bulk trash, wooden TV consoles, propane tanks, microwave ovens, air conditioners and other appliances, as well as radioactive or medical wastes. 

The Benning Road Trash Transfer Station will be open every Saturday, excluding holidays, from 8 am to 3 pm. Weekly HHW and e-cycling collections will begin this summer at the Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station, 4900 Bates Road, NE.

For information about household hazardous waste and e-cycling, visit DPW’s website at www.dpw.dc.gov or call 311.