A LARGE HAUL — Crews with CleanEarth, a hazardous waste disposal service based in Detroit, removed many expired fire extinguishers, cans of paints and bottles of household cleaners, automotive fluids and other chemicals from hundreds of vehicles during the JB Green Team’s annual household hazardous waste collection at the rear of the Fort Steuben Mall Saturday. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — Hundreds of Jefferson County residents participated in the JB Green Team’s annual household hazardous waste collection Saturday.

For four hours, staff with CleanEarth, a Detroit-based hazardous waste disposal service, and the regional agency kept a steady flow of cars and trucks moving at the rear of the Fort Steuben Mall, unloading numerous expired fire extinguishers, cans of paint and bottles of household cleaner and other chemicals.

Louise Holliday, environmental educator for the JB Green Team, counted vehicles passing through the collection site, including 80 in the event’s first hour and about 300 in all.

Anita Petrella, the agency’s executive director, said 342 drivers brought hazardous materials to last year’s collection but as many as 503 have participated in the past.

Ben Sawyer, a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy employed by the agency as an environmental enforcement officer, was among JB Green Team staff who directed drivers to the collection site on Saturday.

Petrella expressed appreciation to the many residents who chose to bring their hazardous waste to the event instead of adding it to their everyday trash, pouring it down drains or illegally dumping it in secluded areas.

“They’re doing the right thing for the ground and water,” she said, noting such events help to prevent environmental pollution that can create serious health risks.

Petrella said the collection is one of two sponsored by the JB Green Team, also known as the Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority, each costing $40,000 to $50,000.

Those who missed Saturday’s collection may turn out for another to be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14 at a new Belmont County location: The Belmont County Fairgrounds at 45300 Roscoe Road, St. Clairsville.

Participants should be prepared to present proof of their residency.

Accepted items include household cleaners; lawn, garden and pool chemicals; aerosols, roof and driveway sealers; lead acid, dry cell, lithium and alkaline batteries; automotive fluids, paints and related products such as solvents and varnishes; gasoline, kerosene, grill size or smaller propane cylinders; mercury; organic acids; fire extinguishers; 4- or 8-foot light bulbs; and lighters.

Petrella noted residents need not wait until September to dispose of some items.

For example, household paints produced after 1990 don’t contain mercury or lead, which had made them hazardous, and can be dried by adding sand or cat litter, then left for regular garbage pickup.

The JB Green Team also maintains bins at many sites for recyclable paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs bearing the numbers 1 and 2, glass bottles and jars and metal cans that had contained food or beverages.

While some stores accept discarded plastic grocery bags, the JB Green Team can’t accept them as they often become stuck in the machinery used to sort the recyclables, said Petrella.

She added crews also often find bubble wrap or styrofoam in the bins, which aren’t recyclable, and assorted bulky trash outside them, which costs the agency money because it must pay for it to be taken to a landfill.

Petrella said leaving such material is considered littering, a crime, and surveillance cameras have been posted near the bins to deter it.

The bins can be found in several communities and a list can be found at jbgreenteam.org/recycling.

The website also offers tips for disposing of many items not accepted by the agency.