Authority announces Earth Day event, rain barrel and composter sale

MOHAWK VALLEY

The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority will be holding its annual Earth Day recycling event on Saturday, April 22. The event will be taking place at the Oneida-Herkimer Recycling Center, 80 Leland Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in conjunction with ConfiData, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Utica Zoo.

The Earth Day recycling event

will include: • Confidential paper shredding by ConfiData: Residents can bring a limit of three boxes per vehicle of confidential documents for shredding. Documents will be shredded onsite and will be placed in a collection vehicle for recycling. Residents do not need to remove their name or other personal information from the documents. • Unused medication and pharmaceutical collection by DEC: The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will be accepting unused and unwanted prescription or nonprescription medications for proper disposal. This includes prescription liquids, pills or powders, over the counter medications, vitamins and supplements, and pet medications. • Household hazardous waste:

The Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility will be opening on Saturday, April 1, and will be available during the April 22 Earth Day event. Items such as paints, chemicals, and pesticides are accepted at this facility from April 1 to Sept. 30. For a complete list of items that are accepted at the Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility, visit: ohswa.org/household-hazardous-waste/

• Year-round EcoDrop items:

The EcoDrop will also be available on the April 22 Earth Day event for the disposal of items that are accepted year-round. This includes electronics, lightbulbs, and rechargeable batteries. For a complete list of items that are accepted at the Authority’s Utica EcoDrop, visit: ohswa. org/ecodrop/ • Recycling center tours:

Authority staff will be available to offer guided tours of the Recycling Center. This will give residents the opportunity to see some of the recycling center machinery and to ask any questions about the recycling process. • Utica Zoomobile: The Utica Zoomobile will also be in attendance at the Earth Day event to give an up close look at some of their animals. • Compost bin and rain barrel

pre-order sale: The Authority is once again hosting a rain barrel and compost bin sale in honor of Earth Day. Orders will only be accepted online at: ohswa.compostersale.com/ and must be picked up at the April 22 Earth Day event. The link to the sale is also available on the authority’s Facebook page and website.

For more information on rain barrels or Operation Ripple Effect, an Oneida County initiative that offers simple steps to help keep the Mohawk River Clean, visit: rippleeffectocsd.org

For more information on the authority’s 2023 Earth Day event and the compost bin and rain barrel pre-order sale, visit: ohswa.org or call 315-733-1224.

Additional information can also be found on the authority’s Facebook page.