LEWISTON – Maine’s first permanent household hazardous waste facility, the Western Maine Environmental Depot, will be open one more day this year.

On Saturday, Nov. 17, residents of Lewiston/Auburn and the surrounding area will be able to dispose of all of the poisons, pesticides and paints they have been accumulating around their homes from 8 a.m. to noon at the Lewiston Solid Waste Facility on 424 River Road. This will be the only opportunity to bring these wastes to the depot for the year until spring.

Participating towns include Lewiston, Auburn, Durham, Greene, Leeds, Lisbon, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland and Sabattus.

This year, more than 6,500 gallons have been collected at the depot and disposed of or recycled at facilities specially designed to handle such wastes. The depot is owned by AVCOG and is operated by Environmental Projects Inc.

AVCOG and EPI also team up to hold the regional collection events. EPI is a fully licensed hazardous waste handler that recently relocated to Auburn.

Wastes accepted include oil based paints, varnishes, lacquers, paint thinners, pesticides, old gasoline and contaminated waste oil, old pool chemicals, and almost anything that has the words “caution, warning, poison, corrosive, toxic, volatile, flammable or danger” on the label.

Residents of the towns are asked to bring their hazardous wastes in original containers, if possible. Leaking containers can be placed in plastic bags or cardboard boxes.

For residents from towns not listed above as participating, the cost is $27 per every 5 gallons of liquid waste or 20 pounds of dry waste (or a combination).

Smoke detectors have been added to the list of accepted items. The collection will not accept latex paint, ammunition, or explosives. For more information, contact AVCOG at 783-9186 or visit www.avcog.org.