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Eco Centre opens doors to clean environment

The Stettler Eco Centre was officially opened last Thursday to collect toxic waste year-round and protect the environment.
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Steve Bodnar

The Stettler Eco Centre was officially opened last Thursday to collect toxic waste year-round and protect the environment.

Located at the Stettler transfer station, the new centre accepts a variety of hazardous and chemical household waste under the Stettler Waste Management Authority.

“This is one small building for Stettler, but one giant leap for Stettler regional recycling,” said Grace Fix, a volunteer recycling representative on the waste authority and a member of the Heartland Beautification Committee.

She was commended by waste authority chair Coun. Malcolm Fischer of the Town of Stettler and Coun. James Nibourg of the County of Stettler, both of whom explained the value of this facility.

“We want to manage waste, not let waste manage us,” Fischer said.

“So there’s no excuse, everything should be recycled,” Nibourg added.

Open from Thursday to Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the new year-round toxic waste disposal eliminates the need for toxic round-up in June and October.

A fluorescent bulb-eater is a unique feature and can crush up to 1,300 bulbs, with $6,500 donated from the TD Friends of the Environment Fund.

While most products are recycled, items not recyclable are taken to Swan Hills Treatment Centre.

Old paint, household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, small electronics, cellphones, laser toner and Inkjet cartridges are the basic items accepted, along with household waste that includes products that contain symbols to indicate the items are explosive, corrosive, flammable and toxic.

Examples of accepted items include all cleaners, acetone, spray paint, air freshener aerosol cans, all-purpose cleaners, ammonia, wasp spray, auto body filler, ballasts, barbecue starters, household and auto batteries, bleach and butane.

The list includes contact cement, disinfectants, drain cleaners, fabric softeners, fungicides, gasoline, week killers, glue, hair colouring and hair spray, kerosene, laser toners, laundry soap and stain remover, lighter fluid, lye, mildew removers, muriatic acid and nail polish remover.

The long list also includes oven cleaners, paint thinners, rubbing alcohol, rug and upholstery cleaners, rust removers, septic tank cleaner, turpentine, varnish, lacquers, pool and hot-tub chemicals, toilet cleaners and windshield washer fluid.