Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority

The Authority also enhances the sustainability of its ISWMS by operating the first permanent household hazardous waste collection facility in the State of Georgia, opening in June 1999.  Prior to this, the Authority conducted an annual collection for HHW; however, the Citizens Advisory Task Force (CATF) identified a need for a permanent facility and more frequent collection.  With a $50,000 grant from GEFA, the Authority opened the first publicly owned and operated permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility in the State of Georgia.  The HHW facility is open to residents of Whitfield County the third Saturday of every month and accepts leftover household products such as pesticides, old gasoline, batteries, paints and pool chemicals, to name a few.  Employees, that are HAZWOPER certified, inventory collected materials that are then recycled or, if no market exists, disposed of utilizing a licensed hazardous waste incinerator.

The Authority controlled construction costs for the HHW facility by utilizing its personnel to construct the building.  With the facility only open one day a month, operating costs are fairly low with the exception of the associated disposal costs of the hazardous materials. The facility has been used as the model for many communities around the State, but still remains the only facility like it in the State.