Lots of homes have old batteries, paint cans and other hazardous materials sitting around, but they aren't needed anymore. Since you can't throw them away, there is another option.

For the past 13 years, the city of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County have had an annual household hazardous waste collection. Within the city alone, there was such a need for the service, that Harrisonburg started offering a monthly drop off service for residents.

"It's been in my shed for about three to four years at least," says Ron Bricker, who dropped off some waste Saturday morning.

"Six months, and now we've found a place to get rid of them," says Joyce Hoover, who dropped off some fluorescent lights.

The city of Harrisonburg is taking hazardous materials and disposing of it properly, making sure people don't dump such products down the drain.

"The most we've been getting today have been fluorescent tubes which has mercury in it and we want to get that out and oil-based paints," says Charlie Honaker, the solid waste superintendent for Harrisonburg. "We have a lot of oil based paints that people don't know how to get rid of and we take that and the people that are contractors turn it into a fuel which is burnt at a proper disposal."

Proper disposal is needed to make sure chemicals from such items don't get into our drinking water.

"Well, we need to get it out of the way stream. It causes a water hazard at the landfill. It becomes a hazard at the steam plant when we burn the waste," says Honaker.

If such items are left for too long, the waste can also be a hazard in your own home.

"They need to look at all the different products they have underneath their cabinets," says Honaker. "It could be a real hazard to them and to have them know it. Your kids can get into it, your pets can get into it or you can get a leak and ruin your cabinet."

"They wouldn't take all the stuff I brought this time, so I'll be back again next month," says Carter Ritchie, who dropped off some waste.

There is a limit. Residents can only bring five units, and no more than five gallons of one item is allowed. They won't take latex paint because it is water based and non hazardous, so you can throw it away yourself.

This service is offered the third Saturday of every month through October. If you want the future dates and times, or a list of what all you can and can't bring, see the link below.