The Southwestern Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Task Force deserves plaudits for sponsoring Butler County's first - and successful - Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. The event was held Aug. 28 at the county fairgrounds.

Anyone who failed to take advantage of the opportunity can take items such as aerosol cans, automotive fluids, batteries, cleaners, paint products, pesticides, other garden products and pool chemicals to a similar collection event scheduled for Sept. 18 in Westmoreland County. Information about that collection is available by calling the task force at 412-488-7452.

Meanwhile, it is to be hoped that the special day becomes an annual undertaking in this county. That is the goal of Sheryl Kelly, Butler County's environmental specialist and recycling and waste management coordinator.

"I get calls at least once a week all year long from people who want to know how to dispose of old paint, motor oil, antifreeze or garden chemicals," she said.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is a day that benefits the environment as well as the people who are seeking a way to dispose of such materials properly. Although participation involved a small fee - those who dropped off items paid $2 a gallon - getting the unwanted items out of homes, garages, barns and basements was worth the expenditure.

- J.R.K.