LAPLACE — Shell Norco retiree Fred Goodson was recognized with a framed certificate at Marathon Petroleum Thursday morning for developing Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day, an initiative that has promoted environmental health and safety in the River Parishes for the past two decades.

Last year’s event saw a record breaking 68 tons of potentially harmful materials collected by 105 volunteers and prepared for recycling, recovery treatment or disposal, according to chairwoman Lynette Currier of OxyChem.

Currier said it’s important for residents to take full advantage of annual collection days to dispose of items not suited for curbside pick-up.

“Every tire, can of paint, drop of oil, old appliance, computer, television or aerosol can that we prevent from entering a landfill helps to protect the environment and our future,” Currier said.

The 20th annual Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 7 at the New Wine Christian Center parking lot, 1921 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, and at the Dufresne Community Center, 274 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway in Luling.

The first 150 vehicles to arrive at each location receive a complimentary pass for one premium Pelican Pointe car wash.

With support from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the event is hosted and funded by 24 local industries as a community service, according to coordinator Jan L. Herrington.

“This event illustrates how the industrial companies truly are concerned about the environment,” Herrington said.

“They encourage people to think about what they are throwing away and ensure proper handling and disposal.”

Oil-based paint, latex paint, solvents, tires (limit five per vehicle, one delivery only), automotive batteries, used oil, antifreeze, household cleaning products, aerosol cans, acids and bases, fluorescent tubes, tars, resins, adhesives, pesticides, herbicides, scrap metal and used electronics such as computers, copiers, printers, radios, TVs and other devices will be accepted.

The following items will not be accepted: Explosives, ammunition, unidentifiable materials, infectious medical waste, compressed gas cylinders including propane tanks, asbestos, smoke alarms and other radioactive wastes, high school lab wastes and commercial, home or government facility wastes.

Residents can use hhmcd.com as a year-round resource for disposal of non-qualifying materials.

Residents should be wary of what they throw away and call appropriate businesses for advice, according to Herrington.

For example, physicians, pharmacists and local hospitals can give instruction on throwing away medical waste, while the St. John Parish Office of Fire Services can shed light on how to dispose of smoke alarms, she said.

Herrington asks that the community support local recycling programs for regular disposal of non-hazardous wastes, including paper, cardboard, aluminum cans and plastic.

St. John recycling bins are available at the Westside Fire Station in Edgard, the Edgard Courthouse, the Service Center in Garyville, Health and Human Services in Reserve, the Percy Hebert building in LaPlace, the St. Andrews Fire Station in LaPlace and the Pleasure Bend Fire Station.

Visit sjbparish.com for a list of accepted materials.

Herrington said Household Hazardous Collection Day has grown tremendously in recent years, and she believes residents are becoming more environmentally aware.

Used electronics comprised a large number of collections, and a large quantity of latex paint was sent to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge to use for homes under construction.

When disposing of computers, it is up to each individual to ensure personal information is removed in case the device is repurposed, Herrington said.