SHERMAN, August 2, 2017 – Dr. Susan Thomas, Executive Director of Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG), announced that results from the April 2017 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event have been released. Overall, the three counties saw an increase in the number of cars totaling 938, up from 644 cars in 2015.

“The triple-digit percentage increase in waste collected over the 2015 collection event clearly shows a considerable demand for this service,” Thomas stated. She also emphasized that this region-wide event is oftentimes the only resource available to residents in the Texoma region for properly disposing household hazardous waste.

Cooke County Judge Jason Brinkley, who currently serves as president on TCOG’s Governing Board, said, “This year’s household hazardous waste collection event was a great benefit to the residents of Cooke County and the Texoma region. The significant increase over the previous collection event shows not only a real need for this service, but also the commitment that our residents have to ensuring that such waste is disposed of properly. I appreciate the help of the numerous volunteers and TCOG staff for making it a success.”

According to Michael Schmitz, GIS & Planning program manager at TCOG, the primary goal of the Municipal Solid Waste program is to extend the life of area landfills by promoting and practicing recycling, composting, and proper disposal of hazardous materials – and in doing so makes for healthier and safer communities by diverting hazardous or potentially hazardous items from area streams and landfills. Schmitz also stated, “It is my hope to be able to hold this event annually—instead of the current cycle of every other year—so we will begin working with local member entities to fill the funding gap in the state grant received from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) that allows us to hold such events for citizens in our region.

For information and resources about the Municipal Solid Waste program, please visit www.tcog.com/msw. Complete results from the 2017 Collection Event may also be found on TCOG’s website at www.tcog.com/news/2017-hhw-results.

The Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties. Established in 1968, the Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Either directly, or through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.

2017 Totals

Compared to 2015 results

2017 Breakdown

2017 HHW Results Infographic

For Immediate Release

SHERMAN, March 27, 2013 – Dr. Susan B. Thomas, Executive Director of the Texoma Council of Governments, announced the schedule for the 2013 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collections in the Texoma Region. The collections will be held on April 20, 2013 in three separate locations including the Criminal Justice Center located in Gainesville, Grayson College in Denison, and the Precinct 4 County Warehouse on the east side of Bonham. All collections will begin at 9 am and close at 1 pm or earlier if funding is exhausted.

Waste in and around our homes that cannot be composted, put in the trash, or in a recycling bin is called “Household Hazardous Waste.” HHW around the home includes fluorescent light bulbs, cleaners, paints, batteries, televisions, and computer monitors. Other items considered HHW are tires, fuels, pool chemicals, automotive batteries, motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, pesticides, and herbicides.

All of these products contain potentially hazardous ingredients that require special disposal measures. The best way of knowing if a product is a hazardous waste is to read the label. Words such as caution, warning, danger or poison indicate the product is flammable, reactive, corrosive, and/or toxic. Improper disposal of these products would include pouring them down the sink, on the ground, in a storm drain, burning, and in some cases putting them in the trash. Without proper storage and disposal of these wastes, it is possible for them to become harmful to the environment and human health.

It is important that HHW are not put into landfills because they could have a chemical reaction with items around them and become explosive. The possibility of HHW leaching through the ground and contacting groundwater and surface water can create contaminated drinking water and damage aquatic habitat. An E-waste company will be accepting anything that runs on electricity including items such as old refrigerators, window unit air conditioners, or your old kitchen mixer.

There will be some restrictions at the collection events. Paint, oil, and other liquids will be limited to 10 gallons or less. Tires are limited to 4 or less per vehicle that brings material to the events. Only car and light truck tires will be accepted. Tires with rims are not allowed. Ammunition, explosive materials, and compressed gas cylinders will not be accepted.

The Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties. Established in 1968, the Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Either directly, or through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.