Frisco Sets Aside 10 Acres for a New Recycling and Hazardous Waste Center
Frisco's council approved conveying 10.3 acres for a new environmental collection center. The city hasn't said what happens to the Walnut Street site open since 2001.
Every growing city reaches the point where the old drop-off center can't keep up. Frisco is planning for that day.
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the Frisco City Council approved a consent agenda item to convey 10.3 acres for a new environmental collection center, Community Impact reported. The plan includes three buildings, parking, and recycling and processing facilities.
What would be built
According to Community Impact, the new center would include:
An administration building of about 12,340 square feet, with offices, staff support areas and meeting rooms
A household hazardous waste and operations building of about 10,800 square feet
A recycling and processing building of about 6,300 square feet
Parking and other site work are part of the plan too. Community Impact noted that city documents do not include a construction cost estimate or a contractor. They also don't say what will happen to the existing center once the new one opens.
That is worth watching. Residents ought to see a price before the dirt moves.
The center you can use today
The current center has been open since 2001 at 6616 Walnut St. The city's page lists hours for household batteries, Styrofoam, plastic bags and plastic film:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Household chemicals and electronics have shorter hours. They are taken Tuesday through Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m., with Wednesday afternoons running until 6 p.m. On Saturdays the hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The city says it cannot take chemicals or electronics outside those hours, and that dumping them improperly counts as illegal dumping.
The center also takes cooking oil and motor oil, flattened cardboard, and clean plastic grocery bags and film. Gently used clothing and shoes are collected there by Medina Children's Home for reuse.
Why it matters
Paint thinner, old batteries and broken televisions don't belong in a landfill or a creek. A city that makes it easy to get rid of them properly is doing right by its neighbors and the land. If you have a garage shelf of old chemicals, Saturday morning on Walnut Street is a good time to clear it.
Hero photo: williamedia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
