KDHE Home - News 2001 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 20, 2001
Contact: Mike Heideman, 785-296-1529
To recognize Earth Day 2001, which is Sunday, April 22, the state environmental agency wants you to know it is committed to getting hazardous materials away from places where Kansans live.
"Earth Day reminds everyone that we all have a responsibility to protect our natural resources," stated Division of Environment Director Ron Hammerschmidt, Ph.D. "We believe one of the best ways to do that is to encourage people to voluntarily get rid of household hazardous wastes, in the right way."
Hammerschmidt said that 34,106 pounds of outdated pesticides now banned by EPA were voluntarily turned in from private stockpiles and properly disposed through a special program called Kansas Clean Sweep. Through Clean Sweep, people can anonymously drop off household hazardous materials for proper disposal or recycling.
"Clean Sweep’s current focus is mercury. Accidental spills of very small amounts of mercury can pose serious long-term health risks to people, especially children, who might inhale the mercury vapor, which is odorless and highly toxic," Hammerschmidt said. "The mercury collected through Clean Sweep will be either recycled or properly disposed by late June." Mercury collection sites have been set up in 90 of the 105 Kansas counties.
In addition to Clean Sweep, stated Hammerschmidt, the state Waste Tire Program recorded more than 11 million tires collected as of March 13, and is still going strong. Abandoned tire piles can serve as a potential breeding ground for disease-carrying vermin and pose a serious fire hazard.
"Our efforts to get dangerous materials away from homes are just one facet of KDHE’s approach to making sure the environment is safe and protecting the citizens of Kansas," said Hammerschmidt. "The agency also works in conjunction with municipalities, public interest groups and private industry to minimize air and water pollution."
Internet users may visit www.kansasrecycles.org/ for information on recycling facilities in Kansas. For a list of Earth Day 2001 activities in Kansas, visit http://www.earthday.net.