Report on Lackawanna County’s Hazardous Waste Collection Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Event Overview

Lackawanna County, through its Environmental Sustainability office, has scheduled a hazardous household waste collection event for county residents. This initiative provides a secure and environmentally responsible method for disposing of hazardous materials, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event is scheduled for September 28 at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain, marking a new location for the annual collection. The county will continue its partnership with MXI Environmental Services LLC for the third consecutive year to manage the collection and disposal process.

2.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The hazardous waste collection program is a practical implementation of the county’s commitment to global sustainability targets. Its operations significantly advance the following SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By removing toxic and hazardous materials such as pesticides, chemicals, and mercury from households, the program minimizes the risk of accidental exposure and poisoning, safeguarding the health of residents.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Preventing hazardous fluids and chemicals from entering landfills or being improperly dumped is crucial for protecting groundwater and surface water sources from contamination, ensuring the availability of clean water.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This initiative makes the community safer and more sustainable by providing an essential service for managing hazardous waste, thereby reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of the city.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The event directly addresses Target 12.4, which calls for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle. It provides a mechanism to significantly reduce the release of hazardous materials into the air, water, and soil.
• SDG 14 & 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land: Proper disposal of pollutants like automotive fluids, pesticides, and corrosive compounds prevents contamination of local ecosystems, protecting both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The program exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, uniting a local government (Lackawanna County), a private sector entity (MXI Environmental Services LLC), and state-level agencies (Department of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Protection) to achieve common sustainability objectives.

3.0 Operational Details

1. Date and Location: The event will be held on September 28 at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.
2. Eligibility: The service is free of charge and exclusively for residents of Lackawanna County. Proof of residency will be required.
3. Registration: Pre-registration is mandatory to ensure a safe and organized process. Registration will open on August 1 via the county’s official website: lackawannacounty.org.

4.0 Accepted Materials

In line with the goals of SDG 12, the collection will focus on materials that pose a risk to human health and the environment if disposed of improperly. Accepted items include, but are not limited to:

• Pesticides and lawn herbicides
• Oil-based paints, stains, turpentine, and thinners
• Pool cleaners
• Automotive fluids (oil, gas) and batteries
• Household batteries
• Lightbulbs and fire extinguishers
• Floor and furniture polish
• Driveway sealer
• Liquid mercury
• Bleach and other corrosive or flammable compounds

5.0 Financial Framework and Partnerships

The event’s financial structure is a model of collaborative funding, reinforcing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The final cost is contingent on the volume and type of waste collected. Key funding components include:

• Up to $16,000 in “chemsweep” funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to cover the cost of pesticide disposal.
• An anticipated 50% reimbursement of the remaining event costs from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

This financial collaboration between county and state governments ensures the program’s viability and reduces the direct cost to the county, allowing for the continuation of this vital environmental service.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article discusses the safe disposal of “hazardous and toxic materials” such as “pest poisons, chemicals, liquid mercury, bleach and corrosive/flammable compounds.” By preventing these substances from contaminating the environment through landfills or illegal dumping, the initiative helps reduce human exposure to harmful chemicals, which is directly linked to preventing illnesses and promoting well-being.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The event’s objective to “keep more hazardous and toxic materials out of curbside trash and local landfills” directly supports the protection of water resources. Improper disposal of automotive fluids, pesticides, and chemicals can lead to the contamination of groundwater and surface water, and this program aims to mitigate that risk, thereby contributing to improved water quality.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• This initiative is a clear example of municipal waste management within Lackawanna County. By providing a structured and free service for residents to dispose of hazardous household waste, the county is actively working to reduce the adverse environmental impact of the community and make it safer and more sustainable.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The core of the article revolves around the environmentally sound management of waste. The collection event for hazardous materials like “pesticides, oil-based paint, pool cleaner, oil, gas, lightbulbs” is a direct action to manage the end-of-life stage of these products responsibly, reducing their release into the environment and minimizing adverse impacts.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• By preventing “illegal dumping” and ensuring hazardous materials do not end up in landfills where they can leach into the soil, the program helps protect terrestrial ecosystems. Toxic chemicals can harm soil health, plants, and wildlife, and this initiative serves as a protective measure for local biodiversity and land resources.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article highlights a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve this environmental goal. Lackawanna County’s environmental sustainability office is working with a private company (“MXI Environmental Services LLC”) and receiving significant financial support from state government bodies (“chemsweep” funding from the state Department of Agriculture and reimbursement from the state Department of Environmental Protection). This collaboration is essential for the event’s implementation and success.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • The event directly addresses this by providing a safe disposal route for “hazardous and toxic materials,” thus preventing the soil and water contamination that can lead to human illness.
2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
   • The program’s stated goal is to “reduce incidents of illegal dumping” and keep hazardous materials out of landfills, which directly contributes to minimizing the release of these chemicals into water systems.
3. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • The free disposal event is a specific municipal waste management service organized by Lackawanna County to manage hazardous household waste, directly addressing this target.
4. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
   • The collection of “pesticides, oil-based paint, pool cleaner, oil, gas” and other chemicals for safe disposal by a specialized company (“MXI Environmental Services LLC”) is a textbook example of implementing this target.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The article explicitly describes a partnership between a public entity (Lackawanna County), a private company (MXI Environmental Services LLC), and other public institutions (state Department of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Protection) to fund and execute the event.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Amount of hazardous waste collected: The article implies this will be measured, as it states, “The ultimate cost of the event will depend on what people drop off — a pricing sheet lists the per-pound fee for different types of waste.” This suggests that the total weight of waste, categorized by type (e.g., pesticides, oil-based paint, automotive fluids), will be tracked. This is a direct indicator for targets 11.6 and 12.4.
• Number of participating residents: The article mentions that “county residents who pre-register” can participate and “will have to show I.D.” The number of pre-registered and participating residents serves as an indicator of community engagement and the program’s reach.
• Financial investment in the program: The article provides specific financial figures that act as indicators of partnership and commitment. These include “up to the first $16,000 in costs” covered by the Department of Agriculture and a “50% reimbursement” from the Department of Environmental Protection. This quantifies the partnership described in Target 17.17.
• Frequency of the service: The statement, “This will be our third year working with MXI,” indicates that the event is recurring. The frequency of such collection events (e.g., annually) is an indicator of a sustained effort in municipal hazardous waste management.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: thetimes-tribune.com