Hazardous Waste Collection Day set for Saturday in Aurora

The Aurora Rotary Club is coordinating a community-based household hazardous waste collection day at the fairgrounds Saturday, with volunteers from several entities working together to help protect the area’s environment.
Local residents will be able to get rid of unwanted hazardous materials stored in their garages, basements and attics, most of which will be disposed of at a licensed facility in Grand Island. The local Rotary club typically coordinates its hazardous waste collection effort every other year, with the last event conducted in October of 2023.
“We’re excited to be able to provide this service again and know from previous events that it is badly needed,” said Kurt Johnson, this year’s project chairman. “We have collected as much as 16,000 pounds of various types of hazardous waste in the past and feel it’s important to dispose of some of these nasty materials in the proper way.”
The main change for this year’s event will be the route for dropping off items. Participants will be directed to enter the grounds off of A Street, turning south on 8th Street and proceeding to the entrance on the south side of the fairgrounds near the beef barn. Several stations will be set up along the gravel road heading north, with participants then using the main entrance as the exit.
The far west entrance, which has been used in previous years, is not accessible this year and will be closed.
In addition to items collected in previous years, area residents will be able to clear out their medicine cabinets and filing cabinets. Jim’s U-Save Pharmacy will accept all medications that anyone wants to dispose of at its Highway 34 location, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
As for those piles of unwanted paper or records, Heritage Bank is sponsoring the Paper Tiger of Hastings as well.
Marty Pierson of Aurora, owner of E-stroyed Technology Waste Solutions, will be in charge of collecting and disposing of computer-related items. He noted that no tube televisions will be accepted, including rear-projection TVs, though computer monitors, keyboards, sound systems, cords and related devices will be.
Items to be collected this year as in the past include paints and stains; aerosol cans; pesticides and fertilizer. No ag-related chemicals will be accepted.
A majority of items collected in Aurora will be taken that same day to the Grand Island Area Clean Community System, located on Sky Park Road.
Other items that WILL NOT be accepted include tires, televisions, batteries, fuel, antifreeze and other used automotive liquids.
Collection stations will be set up at the Hamilton County fairgrounds from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. 
Disposal of household hazardous waste will be free since the Grand Island Area Clean Community System is supported by grants from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Nebraska Environmental Trust, though donations will be accepted to cover Rotary’s expenses for coordinating the project.
The Aurora Rotary Club coordinates the event, though volunteers from Aurora High School will also be involved.