Contact: Linda Grant, 202-671-2375
(Washington, DC) The DC Department of Public Works reminds residents that the next Household Hazardous Waste/E-cycling/Personal Document Shredding drop-off is Saturday, July 11, 8 am to 3 pm at the Ft. Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John F. McCormack Drive, NE.* While the HHW/e-cycling drop-off is weekly, document shredding is the first Saturday of the month only; however, due to the 4th of July holiday, DPW is offering document shredding on Saturday, July 11.
Residents may bring up to five boxes of documents to be shredded. No business or commercial material will be accepted. Personal documents to be shredded will not be accepted on any day other than when document shredding is scheduled because these documents cannot be protected until the shredding contractor arrives on the first Saturday of the month.
Weekly, Saturday HHW and e-cycling drop-off schedule: July 11, 18 and 25 between 8 am and 3 pm.
Monthly, weekday HHW and e-cycling drop-off: Thursday, July 30. Every month, weather permitting, DPW will accept HHW and e-cycling the Thursday before the first Saturday between 1 pm and 5 pm.
District residents may bring HHW items such as cooking oil, pesticides, pet flea control and cleaning fluids to Fort Totten, along with e-cycling items such as computers, televisions and other unwanted electronic equipment. For a list of all household hazardous waste and e-cyclables accepted by DPW, please click on the HHW link at www.dpw.dc.gov. DPW does not accept latex paint, which can be disposed of in the trash. Paint must be dried out by adding an absorbent, such as kitty litter, to it before it goes in the trash.
DPW reminds residents that certain batteries (lithium-based and batteries greater than 9 volts) should be taped before being brought to Fort Totten. Lithium-based batteries are most commonly found in cell phones, digital cameras and laptops. Also, hearing aids, watches and keyless remotes typically use button cells that contain lithium. To safely dispose of batteries with lithium or batteries of greater than 9 volts, put clear, masking or electrical tape on the batteries’ terminals. Flat button batteries can be sandwiched between two layers of tape. Examples are pictured at http://dpw.dc.gov/node/414902. Place these batteries in a separate container from other batteries that don’t require being taped, e.g., A, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt batteries.
*Directions to Fort Totten, 4900 John F. McCormack Drive, NE: Travel east on Irving Street, NW, turn left on Michigan Avenue, turn left on John F. McCormack Drive, NE and continue to the end of the street. Directions from additional locations can be found at http://dpw.dc.gov/node/414922.