The city of Baltimore held one of its twice-a-year hazardous waste drop offs last weekend and got a little less than the average response, according to the folks at Public Works.

Just more than 900 vehicles came by with paint, cleaner, batteries and other bad stuff that can't go in the regular garbage. The average for these events is 1,100. Weight figures won't be available for another week.

The city and surrounding counties have to pay to have this especially nasty stuff hauled away, so they don't expect to add a lot of new drop off events. (Sorry, but you'll have to keep the stuff in your basements until the next event.) Public Works doesn't have a cost estimate for this year, but the average cost going back to 2006 is $73,000.

Here are some other upcoming hazardous waste disposal opportunities:

Baltimore County plans its next event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Western Acceptance Facility, Transway Road, Halethorpe. Residents may drop off unwanted household chemicals, paints, pesticides, medicines, mercury thermometers, fluorescent bulbs, rechargeable batteries, computers and home electronics, ammunition and automotive fluids for recycling or proper disposal. No trash.

Anne Arundel will allow resident to bring a similar list of stuff from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Glen Burnie Convenience Center, 100 Dover Road, Glen Burnie.  

Howard County allows residents to drop off hazardous stuff at its Waste Drop-off Center at the Alpha Ridge Landfill, 2350 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April through November.

Baltimore Sun file photo of hazardous waste disposal at the Alpha Ridge Landfill in Marriottsville/Doug Kapoutsin