Marta Turner, former head of the Rome-Floyd Recycling Center, is encouraging Romans to start the New Year off by recycling and becoming more informed about how to dispose of harmful products.

To this end, the recycling center is sponsoring a collection event Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the site at 405 Watters St., allowing Floyd County residents to dispose of hazardous waste and electronics in a free, environmentally sound method.

“Labels on hazardous materials are required by federal law. Signal words such as flammable/combustible, poison/danger, explosive/reactive, corrosive, warning, caution, words that the conscientious consumer would recognize and know,” said Turner.

However, people still hoard hazardous waste in their garages, bathrooms, basements and kitchens that may not appear to be hazardous, she said. When the product becomes unused it is usually thrown in the trash, where it can cause harm to the rest of the community by infiltrating drinking water. Sanitation workers are especially at risk, because the waste could ignite in the trucks. If the product is not thrown in the trash, it is sometimes sent down the drain, creating polluted drinking water if the sewage system gets overloaded.

The hazardous waste products that will be accepted Saturday are disinfectants, ammonia, bleach, herbicides, pesticides, paint and paint related products, pool chemicals, automotive fluids, oven, tub, tile and toilet bowl cleaners, batteries, florescent bulbs, computers and all peripheral equipment, televisions, test equipment, telecommunication equipment, fax machines, scanners and all other types of electronic equipment.

Products not to bring are medical waste, radioactive waste, electric appliances and explosives.

For more information call the recycling center at 706-291-5266 or visit their website at www.romefloydrecycles.org. for more detailed information. Appointments are required.

Tayler Critchlow, a junior at Armuchee High School, is an intern with the Rome News-Tribune.