Earth Day is an ideal time to learn about the Monroe County ecopark. The facility is an innovative venture by the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services and Waste Management of New York. Its goal is to keep reclaimable materials out of landfills and the county sewer system.
Located at 10 Avion Drive in Chili (near the intersection of Beahan Road and Paul Road), the state-of-the-art facility allows Monroe County residents to drive their vehicles through the large building, stopping at each well-marked station to drop off their items. At each stop, dumpsters and huge metal bins keep everything neat and contained. People must unload their own vehicles.
The ecopark facility is open each Wednesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and accepts items such as: appliances (not air conditioners, dehumidifiers, freezers, refrigerators); batteries (must be non-alkaline; includes rechargeable, lithium ion, button, sealed lead, and vehicle batteries); cardboard and paper; cereal box waxed liners; clothing and fabric (good quality items will be given to Goodwill or the Salvation Army); commingled recyclables (cans, bottles, jars, etc.); CO2 empty cartridges from air soft guns; cooking oil and grease in closed containers (fryer oil, lard, and animal fat drippings); electronics (cell phones, TVs, computers, printers, monitors, etc.); fluorescent light bulbs (return compact fluorescent bulbs to Home Depot or Lowe’s); magnetic media (CDs, DVDs, audiocassettes, videotapes, 8-track tapes, etc.); large plastic items (patio furniture, toys, shower stools, etc.).
Also collected onsite are: prescription bottles (must be empty); printer cartridges; propane tanks (1 lb and 20 lb); scrap metal; sharps (needles) and syringes; shredded documents (also provides document destruction done off site); sneakers; Styrofoam packing material (not egg cartons or food/drink containers).
The ecopark facility will also take anything accepted at the Monroe County Recycling Center via the curbside collection program; visit www.monroecounty.gov/des-residentialrecycling.php.
The ecopark schedules specific dates to collect the following:
•household hazardous waste (paint, stain, paint thinners, pesticides, fuel, etc.) (by appointment only)
•prescription and over-the-counter medications
•tires: $3 each (credit/debit card only)
•appliances containing CFC/Freon (air conditioners and refrigerators): $15 each (credit/debit card only)
The ecopark’s web page www.monroe-county.gov/ecopark has a search tool called “ecopark Prospector,” which gives Monroe County residents alternative options that may be closer and/or more convenient than driving to ecopark. Residents are encouraged to use the most environmentally friendly way to manage their items (generally the closest to their homes).
