(Washington, DC) The DC Department of Public Works announced today that DC residents will be able to bring their household hazardous waste and e-cycling to the Ft. Totten Transfer Station* every Saturday (except holidays), starting Saturday, April 5, 8 am to 3 pm. DPW will continue to accept documents for shredding the first Saturday only (except holidays) of the month. Also, residents may bring HHW and e-cycling to Ft. Totten the first Thursday only (except holidays) of the month.
District residents may bring toxic HHW items such as pesticides, batteries and cleaning fluids to Ft. Totten, along with e-cycling items such as computers, televisions and other unwanted electronic equipment. On the first Saturday only, residents may bring up to five boxes of documents to be shredded. No business or commercial material will be accepted.
To accommodate residents whose religious beliefs prohibit them from using the Saturday drop-off, DPW will accept household hazardous waste and e-cyclables the first Thursday of the month, 1 pm to 5 pm. Items to be shredded cannot be accepted on Thursdays because these documents cannot be protected until the shredding contractor arrives on the first Saturday of the month. 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 reminds residents that certain batteries (lithium-based and batteries greater than 9 volts) should be taped before being brought to Ft. 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 on the next page. 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 Ft. 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.