Nathan Vinarcik, 12, working for Boy Scout Conservation Award

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
Nathan Vinarcik, 12, of Van Buren Township, is working for a Hornaday Conservation Award through his Boy Scout Troop 237 in New Boston.
Nathan is raising awareness for proper household hazardous materials disposal by distributing flyers informing people of the dangerous effects that improper disposal has on the environment.
His goal is to encourage people to form good habits about proper hazmat disposal.
Nathan also is encouraging people to participate in Household Hazardous Waste Day at Wayne County Community College District’s Western Campus at 9555 Haggerty Road, Van Buren Township.
The Wayne County Department of Public Services will be accepting household hazardous waste from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
As an extra incentive, Nathan said if a person fills out one of the flyers he left at the VBT Hall and Belleville Area District Library, that person will be eligible for a drawing. The flyer needs to be turned in to the Scout or American Heritage Girl representative at the collection site.
Nathan said he is giving away five Camp cards to participants. The cards offer discounts at local merchants.
The flyer he is distributing has information for the May 3 hazardous waste event at WCCCD on one side and the application for the raffle on the other side.
Items that are acceptable for the May 3 collection include: household paints, stains, dyes; floor wax, floor care products, carpet cleaner; furniture polish, bathroom cleaners, stain removers, solvents; pharmaceutical waste (non-controlled substances only), nail polish, glue; fertilizer, lawn and garden chemicals, pesticides; antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, propane tanks; automotive batteries and dry cell batteries, fluorescent bulbs (all types); fire extinguishers, smoke detectors; mercury thermometers, thermostats and elementary mercury.
They also will be accepting computer CPUs, monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, cell phones, fax machines, copiers, and televisions.
For more information, call the Wayne County Department of Public Services, (734) 326-3936.
The William T. Hornaday Awards are a series of awards presented by the Boy Scouts of America for service in conservation and ecology. The program is designed to encourage learning about natural resource conservation and the environment, teach sound stewardship of the natural resources and the environment, and recognize those who are outstanding in this field.