Category: Uncategorized

Invasive Species Awareness Week Activities

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

The Cayuga County WQMA hosted two iMapInvasives classes and an invasive species identification presentation as part of NY Invasive Species Awareness Week.  Five people were trained during the first iMapInvasives class and four were trained during the second.  These classes also included a presentation on invasive species identification.  One person thought they may have found jumping worm in Cayuga County, which would be the first report of this species in the county.

The invasive species identification presentation for the first iMapInvasives class was scheduled so it was also given to the Cayuga County WQMA.

Thank you to the Finger Lakes PRISM for providing educational materials. Portions of this project were funded by a grant from the NYSDEC EPF to the Finger Lakes – Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance. Thank you also to the IMapInvasives Trainers Network for their assistance.

Educational material from the Finger Lakes PRISM
Invasive species identification

 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day to be held

Posted on by Michele Wunderlich

On October 20, 2018, Cayuga County will once again be hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Day giving residents of the City of Auburn and County of Cayuga the opportunity to safely discard hazardous household chemicals.  The event is FREE, but residents interested in attending however MUST register by October 19th at: https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=HHW2018_205.

Hazardous materials contain ingredients that when improperly disposed of can pose significant health, safety and environmental risks.  Pouring hazardous materials in the drain, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash are not proper measures of disposal.  Many hazardous materials can go through wastewater treatment facilities untouched because they don’t breakdown in the process and will eventually be released into rivers, lakes and streams. Dumping several products down the drain at the same time can also cause chemical reactions that release toxic gases.  By throwing hazardous waste in a garbage can, we create a health risk to anyone who may unknowingly come into contact with it, such as a sanitation worker.

 These items aren’t your regular trash. Protect yourself, your family and your environment by getting rid of them the right way.

 Acceptable Household Hazardous Wastes To Bring to this Event Include: 

  • Products containing chemicals
  • Oil based paints, oil based stains
  • Turpentine, paint thinners, brush cleaners
  • Pesticides (weed killers, insect sprays, fungicides)
  • Mercury thermometers, barometers and liquid mercury (quick silver)
  • Fluorescent tubes and bulbs (contains mercury)
  • Liquid driveway sealer
  • Household cleaners
  • Gasoline, gas/oil, oil/water, gas/water mixtures
  • Antifreeze
  • Mothballs
  • Pool chemicals
  • Photograph developing chemicals
  • Button cell batteries (from hearing aids, cameras, etc.)
  • Propane tanks
  • Smoke detectors

Look for warnings on labels such as DANGER, CAUTION, TOXIC, FLAMMABLE, CORROSIVE or REACTIVE.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Alkaline AA, AAA, C, D or 9-volt batteries are not accepted at this event.  They areNOT toxic and can go in the trash.
  • We can NOT accept rechargeable batteries.  Please bring them to Lowes or Home Depot to recycle for free.
  • Latex paint is NOT accepted at this event.  For latex paint disposal, check out: http://www.cayugacounty.us/portals/0/planning/documents/paint.pdf

If you have any questions about a specific item being accepted, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at (315) 255-1183.

This event is sponsored by the Cayuga County Legislature, Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development and the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District. Communication and registration is provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County. Major funding is provided by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Cayuga County Legislature.