Hazmat team called to annual Centre Co. hazardous waste collection event

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Centre County’s annual event to collect household hazardous waste was shut down early on Friday after a hazmat team had to be called in.

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority's annual household hazardous waste collection event draws a crowd and is billed as a way to safely dispose of potentially dangerous chemicals or materials.

Organizers say people show up with everything from fluorescent lights to items you rarely hear about.

“So, someone came through today and said I have muriatic acid. Or they'll come in with a can of fix-a-flat. You never know what people are going to bring. A full pickup truck, or something in their hand they hand to you.”

But later in the day, organizers say somebody showed up with an item that was too hazardous, and potentially explosive, for the disposal crews, and a hazmat team was called.

Organizers say they were able to safely deal with the material, but it was decided to evacuate the area, and close the event for the day.

The collection will resume on Saturday morning at the authority's transfer station in College Township. In the past, the event has annually collected close to 70 thousand pounds of hazardous materials.

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