ROSLYN WATER DISTRICT: WATER PROTECTION
Proper Disposal of Potential Contaminants STOP! (STOP THROWING OUT POLLUTANTS)
The S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program offers residents of North Hempstead the opportunity to dispose of their household hazardous waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Many people do not realize that ordinary household products, such as aerosols and cleaners, can be corrosive, explosive, or toxic if mixed indiscriminately with regular household garbage. Please take an extra moment to check labels for warnings, and please take advantage of the S.T.O.P. dates to ensure safe disposal. Click to read more.
Explosives, fireworks, ammunition, radioactive materials, and commercial or industrial wastes are not accepted. This program is only open to Town of North Hempstead residents and the Town will only accept residential waste. No waste will be accepted from any resident’s business or home office.
What Pollutants Are Accepted:
• Electronic Waste (See below list of accepted e-waste)
• ONLY rechargeable, lithium, button and car batteries
• Compact fluorescent bulbs
• Air conditioning refrigerants
• Ammonia and solid bowl cleaner
• Anti-freeze
• Bug and rodent killers including 2, 4-D (Especially pesticides which have been banned or restricted for use)
• Bleach and disinfectants
• Chemistry kits
• Drain cleaners and degreasers
• Fertilizers and herbicides
• Mercury products
• Non-latex paints
• Paint thinners and brush cleaner
• Photography chemicals
• Some polishes and wood preservers
• Swimming pool chemicals
• Spot removers and other solvents
• Unused oven cleaners
• Unused flammable liquids (fire starter)
• Weed killers
The Town of North Hempstead will NO LONGER be collecting pharmaceuticals at S.T.O.P. dates. To dispose of pharmaceuticals, please bring them to your local police precinct.
Important Message About Attendance and Participation at a Town of North Hempstead Sponsored S.T.O.P. Event Preparation at home before your arrival at the event:
To the extent feasible all participants should place all of the items they are dropping-off in their vehicle’s trunk or a back area accessible by a lift gate. All items need to be packaged safely and responsibly. Any containers that could possibly leak should be placed in a plastic bag, preferably clear, sealed to prevent leakage, and then placed in a cardboard box to prevent the items from moving around while the vehicle is on its way to the S.T.O.P. event.
Proper participation upon arrival at the event:
S.T.O.P. events are quite popular and therefore there is usually a good turnout. Town of North Hempstead employees along with our various partners for the day will make every effort to process participants as quickly as possible. To do so your cooperation is necessary. For your safety and that of your fellow participants, all drivers must follow the directions of the staff managing the event. If you do so, participation should be as simple as, you pull-in, wait in line until you have reached the drop-off area, unlock your trunk or lift gate remotely – while remaining in your vehicle -- and the event staff will safely remove your items and direct you safely, either onto the next drop-off point or the event exit.
Important Information About the Disposal of Paint
Latex Paint:
Many Town of North Hempstead residents are under the impression that water-based paints and latex paints are considered hazardous and must be disposed of at a S.T.O.P. drop-off event. This is INCORRECT. You can properly dispose of Latex and water-based paints as follows: Remove the lid from the paint can in an area where the can will remain undisturbed for at least 24-72 hours. Once the paint contents have dried out completely, the paint content will have shrunk in diameter sufficiently to be dumped from the can. The dried paint contents can be disposed of with your regular trash in a sealed plastic garbage bag. The now empty metal (tin) or plastic container can be placed in your recycling container for metal, glass and plastic items. Note: Some residual dried paint on the container is fine and will not interfere with the container’s recyclability. Latex and water-based paints will not be accepted at a S.T.O.P. drop-off event.
Oil Based Paints:
Oil based paints on the other hand, are considered hazardous, and will be accepted at any S.T.O.P. drop-off event day. Please package oil based paint properly when bringing it to a S.T.O.P. event. If the cans are not sealed properly please bag them in plastic bags to prevent leakage both in your vehicle during transport and after drop-off. Place oil-based paint items in a cardboard box and place the box in your truck or wagon back.
The Shredding of Confidential Documents and Papers at S.T.O.P. Events
The shredding services provided at Town of North Hempstead sponsored S.T.O.P. events are solely for residents. No shredding will be accepted from any resident’s business or home office. Participants are limited to a maximum of 6 boxes or bags per vehicle, per event, due to time and capacity constraints.
The Town of North Hempstead is proud to make available to all town residents at our S.T.O.P. events the safe destruction of documents and papers while you wait and watch at no additional cost. Your documents are shredded and put into containers and sent for recycling.
Residents are invited to bring any paper documents and files to all S.T.O.P. events from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please remove paper clips, metal binders and file folders with metal inserts before dropping-off your papers.
Clothing and Gently-Used Household Items Residents Can Drop-Off at S.T.O.P. Events
The Town of North Hempstead is proud to make available to all Town residents at our S.T.O.P events the service, through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters charitable organization, of donating clothing and gently-used household items. Click here to read more.
Electronic Equipment Covered by the Law*: Note: Only the items listed below will be accepted at Town of North Hempstead drop-off locations for electronics. Other electrical devices not covered by the NYS Law, must be placed out for regular garbage collection.
- Computers (including laptops, desktops, tablets and e-readers)
- Televisions
- Cathode ray tubes
- Computer peripherals (including any cable, cord, or wiring accompanying the computer peripheral.)
- Monitors
- Electronic keyboards
- Electronic mice or similar pointing devices
- Facsimile machines, document scanners, and printers (only those intended for use with a computer and weighing less than 100 lbs.)
Small electronic equipment (including any cable, cord, or wiring accompanying the small electronic equipment.)
- VCRs
- Digital video recorders (DVRs)
- Portable digital music players
- DVD players (including projectors with DVD player capabilities intended for home-use)
- Digital converter boxes
- Cable or satellite receivers (including digital media receivers)
- Electronic or video game consoles (including both handheld devices and those intended for use with a video display device)
- Small scale servers
Covered electronic equipment does not include: any motor vehicle or any part thereof; camera or video camera; portable or stationary radio; household appliances such as clothes washers, clothes dryers, refrigerators, freezers, microwave ovens, ovens, ranges or dishwashers; equipment that is functionally or physically part of a larger piece of equipment intended for use in an industrial, research and development or commercial setting; security or anti-terrorism equipment; monitoring and control instrument or system; thermostat; hand-held transceiver; telephone of any type; portable digital assistant or similar device; calculator; global positioning system (GPS) receiver or similar navigation device; a server other than a small-scale server; a cash register or retail self-checkout system; a stand-alone storage product intended for use in industrial, research and development or commercial settings; commercial medical equipment that contains within it a cathode ray tube, a flat panel display or similar video display device, and is not separate from the larger piece of equipment; or other medical devices as that term is defined under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
If you are unsure if your electronic device is covered by this law, please contact NYSDEC at (518) 402-8706 or email ewaste@dec.ny.gov.
For more information, please call 311 if within the Town or (516) 869-6311, if outside the Town
Electronic Waste Recycling DVD players, cell phones and computers may contain lead, mercury or arsenic. To avoid these toxins from seeping into the ground water the Town of North Hempstead has added E-Waste Disposal at all S.T.O.P events and every Sunday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM at 999 West Shore Road, Roslyn.
Make Your Property A Special Groundwater Protection Area
The Roslyn Water District suggests that you view your property as your own especially designated groundwater protection area. This is property "...managed in such a way as to maintain and improve water quality" (S 55-0105 Environmental Conservation Law). Click to read more.
Homeowners can employ various strategies to protect ground water from contamination including changing waste disposal and storage practices, using nonhazardous products, and properly managing septic systems and underground heating oil tanks (UTs).
Waste Disposal
Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to treat harmful substances such as paints, solvents, oil, or pesticides, so these chemicals should not be flushed down the toilet or dumped into the sewer. Similarly, these substances should not go in the trash or be dumped on the ground or buried.
More importantly, limit use of such products and substitute a nonhazardous product when possible. When this is not possible, buy only as much as you need. Hazardous products used around the home include some oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners, bleaches, rust removers, paints, solvents, polishers, carpet and furniture cleaners and glues. If you don't completely use up a hazardous product take advantage of the Town of North Hempstead S.T.O.P. program to properly dispose of them.
If you must use pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn and garden, use them in moderation.
Alternatives to Hazardous Cleaning Products
Whenever possible, use cleaning products that will not harm the environment. Look for the "environmentally friendly" products at the market. Many household products such as shampoo and baby ointment contain zinc. Paints and solvents may contain lead.
Cesspool/Septic Systems
Anything you pour down the drain or flush down the toilet will enter your system and will affect its ability to treat wastes. Do not put hazardous substances or items like coffee grounds, cigarette butts, or grease in your toilet or garbage disposal. Limit the amount of water entering the system by using water saving fixtures and appliances.
Be certain to have your septic system pumped periodically.
Underground Heating Oil Tanks (UTs)
Become aware of the existence and condition of UTs on your property: Check your records.
Have your tank tested for thickness to determine if it is leaking. If your underground tank is more than 20 years old, consider removing it and replacing it, (with an exposed tank that can be easily inspected) or properly abandoning it in place.
Floor and Stormwater Drains
Some homes have floor drains in the garage or basement, which may lead to disposal systems that then discharge into the ground. Residential storm drains also provide a conduit and are subject to receiving the same harmful wastes. Use less water during vehicle maintenance and avoid spilling, pouring or washing automotive and other waste fluids down garage floor or community storm drains.
Each of these efforts will contribute to protecting the groundwater and making you property a "Special Groundwater Protection Area."
From the Environmental Protection Agency
Seven Suggestions to Protect Against Lead Contamination
1 - Make sure your children have a play area that is away from major streets and highways where lead air pollution can be concentrated. Remove or cover contaminated soil from around your home.
2 - Since 1986, it is illegal in New York State to use lead solder in plumbing systems. Be sure this law is observed when plumbing work is done in your home.
3 - Plant your vegetable garden in a safe, lead-free areas away from painted buildings and heavily traveled roads.
4 - Avoid storing or serving food or beverages from ceramic pitchers or plates with colorful lead-based glazes. Do not store liquids in lead crystal because lead may leach out. Short-term use for serving does not pose a threat.
5 - Make sure children do not chew on anything covered with lead paint. This includes toys, windowsills and cribs.
6 - Keep windowsills, furniture and carpets free of paint dust and chips. Vacuum or dust often with a moist cloth. Cover any areas of chipping or peeling paint with adhesive paper. Mop floors frequently with a wet mop and wash children's hands often, especially before they eat.
7 - Never use hot water directly from you tap for cooking or for making infant formula. Lead dissolves quicker in hot water than in cold. Always draw cold water and heat it on the stove.
Remember, Garden Hose Water Not For Drinking
Your RWD cautions against anyone, especially children, from drinking water directly or indirectly from an outside garden type hose.
Most garden hoses are not designed to keep water clean and potable. Stagnant water within the hose can promote a variety of harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
Keep Your Fire Hydrant Clear – Summer and Winter
Finally, Your local firefighters ask you to keep your hydrants clear of snow, ice and other debris during the winter months and during the summer months, clear of shrubs and other plantings that inhibit access.
Coping with emergencies often depends on minutes. Losing time while gaining access to a hydrant could be dangerous for firefighters, property and your family.