I never thought that I had hazardous wastes in my home, but I do. What are they? Small household batteries, fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, old cell phones and out of date medications (both over-the-counter and prescription).

Although I drank the cool-aid of the green movement years ago, until recently I never realized the proper disposal of the above mentioned items. All of the above become pollutants in the soil in a landfill and drugs, often flushed down a toilet or dumped in a trash can, wind up in our water supply. Ooops, was that Vioxx in my coffee this morning?

Here's where to take your small household batteries, CFLs and fluorescent tubes, cell phones, unused or out of date medications and mercury thermometers this Saturday, November 1, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Metro Nashville Recycling drop off locations:
Hillsboro High School
Bellevue at the MTA Park and Ride
Dupont Hadley Middle School
Joelton Middle School
Elysian Fields Kroger

I'll be at the Bellevue location. And so will Metro Police to monitor the medications. If you bring in a mercury thermometer, you'll receive a digital thermometer.