The total volume of hazardous household waste collected in Chatham-Kent this year decreased compared to last year.
CK's Manager of Waste Management Huda Oda told CK News Today the overall volume went from almost 82,000 kilograms during eight designated collection days last year from April to November to just over 73,000 kilograms in 2024 during the same period.
Municipal data of the nearly 50 categories tracked showed the top discarded items in 2024 were paint and paint-related materials, electronic waste, and used oil.
The municipal statistics showed 29,759 kilos of paint and paint related material was received this year compared to 28,979 kilos last year.
The municipality also received 7,880 kilos of used oil and 4,184 kilos of e-waste in 2024 compared to 5,530 kilos of used oil and 7,685 of e-waste last year.
Oda believes the drop in amounts collected was likely because people were doing fewer home renovations in 2024 compared to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2022 and 2023.
"2023 was probably the last leg of COVID effects. People are not generating as much excess waste as they did, especially in terms of renovations because people are conserving more of their money than they did over COVID. And because of inflation and cost of living and all that has factored in people trying to reduce their amount of spending on nice to have things like furniture or painting a new wall, things like that," said Oda.
Oda said the fact that e-waste and used oil is accepted at Chatham-Kent’s municipal depots free of charge suggests to her that the household hazardous waste events provide a "high level of convenience" to residents by allowing them to bring a wide variety of household hazardous waste streams at once.
The data also showed the number of customers or vehicle count is actually higher this year than last year, suggesting that the municipal events continue to be "popular" and provide "value" to the community, according to Oda.
The municipality reported 1,879 vehicles visited the eight events this year, while 1,752 vehicles attended the events in 2023.
Oda noted regular waste statistics will be coming at the end of January or early February 2025, adding the municipality has recently started tracking illegal dumping.