On Saturday, May 22, the 12th Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day was held in Destrehan and LaPlace.

This event has been held annually since 1998, and its purpose is to provide area households an opportunity to properly dispose or recycle materials that are inappropriate for curbside pickup.

Materials such as solvents, poisons, used oil and corrosives require special handling to minimize safety and environmental impact. For the first time, electronics were not accepted because there are now more convenient resources available for recycling used electronics.

Eighteen area manufacturers sponsored the event, providing funding and volunteers.

Of the 50,778 pounds of materials collected, 53 percent was recycled or recovered.

Of this amount, 6,050 pounds was batteries, and 5,950 pounds was used oil.

This amount is nearly twice that collected last year in the same categories. (Last year the full collection event was held only at the LaPlace location because of reduced funding.)

The two sites this year included assistance from 70 volunteers who serviced drop-offs from 358 vehicles, which is 125 more vehicles than last year’s event.

Also new this year is the group’s website at www.hhmcd. com.