Bismarck has been collecting household chemicals for disposal since 2001. It's a popular way for residents to get rid of a variety of substances they've been storing under their sinks, in their basements and out in the garage - so popular that the city is planning to construct a special building to dispose of such items.

Since becoming director of public works in 1998, Keith Hunke has planned on building a chemical collection facility. At the last city commission meeting, he got the authorization to enter into a contract with EAPC Architects and Engineers to design the building.

"Since 2001, we've been conducting an annual collection event for household chemicals like old paint, varnish, thinners, aerosol cans of paint, old batteries, old gasoline, corrosives, oven and drain cleaners. Stuff you find under your kitchen sink or out in the garage on a shelf," Hunke said.

Hunke hopes by the fall of 2006 the city will have completed a facility to allow residents to bring materials in on an ongoing basis instead of waiting for a scheduled collection event. Each year since the collections were started, participants have said in surveys that they would like a place to bring the hazardous materials.

In 2001, 25,700 pounds of materials were collected; in 2002, 58,800; in 2003, 79,700; and at the last one in 2004, 53,000 pounds.

"We're thinking we may have plateaued in 2003, and it's likely we can expect somewhere between 25,000 and 53,000 pounds of stuff," Hunke said. "We're not sure what size the facility should be. That's part of our contract with EAPC. They're taking the data from the past four years and interpreting it to determine what we can expect on an ongoing basis throughout the year. We're hoping to construct it out at the landfill, north of the scale house, where we have an area we could construct it."

The design will have to address the different types of materials. Fire separation walls will have to be built. Categorized containment areas will have to be designed for flammable liquids, acids, and bases. Particular emphasis will have to be placed on possible fires and ventilation of fumes.

"Some of the more unusual items brought in include mercury and DDT. We've also have gotten some explosive materials such as bulk gunpowder," Hunke said.

The city has been contracting with Belfield Waste Recovery Systems to sort the materials received. The company takes the paints and petroleum products and recycles them. Batteries and antifreeze can be recycled locally.

"There are several things we are trying to achieve by creating an outlet to properly dispose of these items," Hunke said. "It's too easy for people to throw something in a black plastic bag and dispose of it through regular garbage pickup. This creates safety and environmental issues."

Hunke also wants to set up a way to redistribute some of the paints which are still usable. "We'll have an area where we'll keep the full cans of latex paints, varnishes and smaller craft model paints, where they will be set aside for people to take as needed," Hunke says.

The new facility will be run using existing staff, and Hunke expects it to be open three days during the week and a half day on Saturday. Similar facilities can be found in Fargo and Minot.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)