Hazardous Waste Disposal in the Buzzards Bay watershed

There are many other potential sources of toxic compounds and chemicals within the Buzzards Bay watershed. These include both point and non-point sources. Point-source discharges include sewage treatment facilities, industrial discharges, combined sewer overflows and storm sewers. Non-point sources include atmospheric fallout, contaminated groundwater, untreated stormwater runoff from developed areas of the watershed and other sources. Non-point sources are numerous, small, and generally unregulated inputs that discharge directly into receiving waters such as wetlands, streams and rivers, ponds and lakes, and the waters of Buzzards Bay itself.

Examples of potential toxic pollution sources include the following:

• Discharges and spills of oil, fuel, wastes, cleaning fluids from boats;
• Spills, discharges and runoff of oil, fuel, and wastewater during maintenance and refueling activities at marinas and docks;
• Spills, discharges and runoff transportation facilities and auto service areas;
• Spills, discharges and runoff from agricultural lands of pesticides, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides;
• Discharges, spills and leachate from solid waste management facilities such as landfills;
• Wastewater discharges from septic systems;
• Spills, discharges and runoff of lawn and garden chemicals;
• Illegal dumping;
• Stormwater runoff;

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Events

Many of these discharges are associated with residential use and disposal of toxic contaminants. To reduce toxic discharges from residential use, many municipalities offer hazardous waste pickup days, or provide certain disposal options at their waste transfer facilities. Below is a table of conventional waste and hazardous waste disposal options in Buzzards bay municipalities.

Below are links to House Hold Hazardous Waste events in the Buzzards Bay watershed.

Read our new Buzzards Bay Toxic Waste Reduction Action Plan and send us your comments.