North Okanagan residents are keen to recycle.

That’s the opinion of North Okanagan Regional District staff following the recent Household Hazardous Waste events held in Vernon, Enderby and Lumby.

Hazco Environmental Services, the main contractor for the event, filled 66 drums and 30 pails with flammables, poison, corrosives and a host of other unknown chemicals.

“We are pleased residents took the time to recycle and safely dispose of their hazardous wastes,” said Karmen Peace, NORD’s waste reduction co-ordinator. “Numbers are down from previous years, but it may be an indication that the year-round depots are becoming better known to area residents.”

EnviroWest and Battery Doctors, two local companies, also donated their services to help collect materials.

EnviroWest gathered up 1,940 litres of waste oil; 300 litres of antifreeze; 122 kilograms of oil filters; and 279 kilograms of used oil plastic containers.

A total of 42 automotive batteries were picked up by Battery Doctors, along with 150 litres of pesticides; 200 litres of solvents; 120 litres of aerosols; and 6,450 litres of paint.

“Staff from the Battery Doctors and EnviroWest worked hard throughout the day to ensure residents could drive through quickly,” said Peace, adding more than 50 volunteers helped out at all three locations, including members of the Enderby and Vernon Lions clubs, Enderby and Lumby volunteer firefighters and NORD staff.

Year-round disposal options are available to North Okanagan residents.

Chaser’s Bottle Depot in Vernon accepts most household pesticides, solvents, paint and flammable liquids at no charge.

Paint can be taken to Armstrong Collision and Glass or KBM Autoworks and Towing in Lumby.

Electronic wastes are accepted year-round at Venture Training Centre, Stop Computer Landfill (at the old Interior Freight and Bottle Depot off 25th Avenue) and JBJ Computer Sales and Services in Vernon; Computer Solutions Specialists, and at the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Bottle Depot in Armstrong. But call first to make sure your electronic item will be accepted at these locations, or go online to www.encorp.ca for items accepted at Venture Training and the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Bottle Depot.

Batteries are accepted at all NORD Recycling and Disposal Facilities (household and automotive), Canadian Tire and Vernon Battery in Vernon; Cherry Wreckers-Recyclers in Lumby; and Canadian 4x4 Recyclers in Enderby.

More listings can be found under the Reuse, Recycle directory at www.rdno.ca.