The city needs to do a a hazmat collection this year. Any word on that? I heard it was canceled...

I've inquired. New post to come. Thanks -MC

Meredith, I'm wondering if you know what the city plans to do about household hazardous waste this year. Usually, there are two drop-off dates, one in spring and one in fall. But this year (maybe becaouse of budget cuts?), the spring date seems to have disappeared. And on DPW's website, it just keeps saying "Dates and location will be announced later this year." Here's the link:

http://www.baltimorecity.gov/Government/AgenciesDepartments/PublicWorks/SingleStreamRecycling/HouseholdHazardousWaste.aspx

We have a bunch of old paint, fluorescent light bulbs, and various other things that we're holding onto, which we won't, of course, dump into regular trash to be taken to a landfill. But I fear many other people are doing exactly that. (The other week my husband saw a man actually dropping batteries down a city sewer grate! And people wonder why groundwater is contaminated.)

As a lifelong citizen of Baltimore City and a supporter of efforts to improve the cleanliness and safety of our recreational parks, I am extremely delighted that the City has finally completed the much needed cleanup of Swann Park. It was a long time coming. However, in this same month, there was another "clean up" - or "cover up" of the dangers that are still lurking in another City recreational park, Druid Hill Park. Just as I have been waiting for the City to take the initiative to clean up Swann Park, I have been waiting a little longer (4 years) for the City to come forth and address the safety of the baseball fields in Druid Hill Park, which was the site of the horrific tragedy that befell, then 14 year old Deanna Green. If you remember, this young lady was playing softball in Druid Hill Park, in May 2006, when she was electrocuted by touching two "dugout" fences that were exposed to underground wiring. While the City was granted immunity from prosecution as a liable party, there has yet to be a formal declaration, on the part of the City government, that specifically states that work has been done and the park is now or has been declared safe. Just as the City took the long awaited initiative to clean up, communicate and celebrate the “reopening” of Swann Park, one might believe that the City leaders would pay the same due diligence at Druid Hill Park. It is should be noted that according to my research, the dangers in Swann Park did not result in the immediate death of a child at play. It makes me wonder about the priority of the City leaders’ agendas and whether politics and legal maneuverings are accorded precedence over a young life. Will it take another tragedy of type to get on the City leaders’ agendas? Maybe they will even venture to come forth and claim responsibility and rename the baseball field after Deanna Green. Remember her?