The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District will hold a household hazardous waste collection day on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Residents and businesses can drop off materials at two sites: Greenfield Community College and the Orange Recycling Center/Transfer Station, located at 100 Jones St.

Registration is required by Sept. 15. Online registration is open at franklincountywastedistrict.org. Mail-in registration forms will be available at participating town transfer stations and town offices, and via ads in this newspaper.

According to the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, participants will be assigned an appointment time to bring their materials to the collection. An appointment time and instructions will be provided by mail after registration is processed.

The collection is free for residents of Athol, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Rowe, Royalston, Shelburne, Warwick, Wendell and Whately. Barre and Sunderland residents must pay to participate.

Businesses located in any of the 26 aforementioned towns that are participating must pay for disposal costs. For business registration information, call 413-772-2438.

Greenfield and Leyden residents are not eligible and should call the Greenfield Department of Public Works at 413-772-1528 for information on household hazardous waste disposal.

This collection provides an opportunity to properly dispose of hazardous items that should not be put in the trash, according to the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District.

Items include oil-based paints, stains, thinners, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, motor oil, antifreeze, household cleaners and other household chemicals.

A more complete list of acceptable items can be found at franklincountywastedistrict.org/Hazardous-Waste.

Batteries and mercury-containing items such as fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers and thermostats will not be accepted. The waste management district advises these items, which may contain mercury or heavy metals, should never be put in the trash or recycling.

Residents are advised to carefully bring them to a municipal transfer station or a regional hazardous waste “Super Site,” and hand them to an attendant. Franklin County’s Super Sites are the Conway and Colrain transfer stations.

In addition, fluorescent light bulbs are accepted at Lowe’s stores (all types of fluorescents) and Home Depot stores (CFLs only).