Heavy rain may have been a damper for the annual hazardous waste collection event in 91原创, with 869 vehicle attending the George Preston Recreation Centre parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30, down from the 1,000 vehicles recorded the previous year.

Christopher Combe, environmental sustainability coordinator for the Township of 91原创, said the first day, with mostly dry weather, saw about 500 vehicles dropping off, but on the 鈥渟oggy鈥� Sunday that followed, under heavy rain and wind, there was a drop.

91原创 City resident Chris Boughen was first in line Saturday, arriving at 6:30 a.m., well before the event opened at 9 to avoid waiting in line.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a popular event, with a significant lineup most years,鈥� Boughen noted.

It was the second year the event has been held at George Preston, rather than the Murrayville public works yard, and Boughen found it a big improvement, much easier to navigate.

鈥淟ike night and day,鈥� Boughen noted.

Before the gate opened, the lineup of vehicles waiting to enter stretched north along 208th Street, down the hill past 44th Avenue.

Upon entering the parking lot, drivers passed by three stations 鈥� the first handling flammable liquids, pesticides, gasoline, and diesel, the second for household hazardous waste such as motor oil, antifreeze, pool chemicals, and propane tanks, and the third for household recycle products like small appliance, batteries, light bulbs, and thermostats.

READ ALSO: Don鈥檛 trash it, 91原创. Take hazardous household stuff to the toxic waste roundup

It was free, with drivers encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for the food bank.

Combe said anyone who didn鈥檛 make it to the weekend still has options for safe disposal.

鈥淎lthough this is a once a year event, a lot of the stuff that we鈥檙e collecting here can go back to depots all year round,鈥� Combe told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淔acilities [for hazardous waste disposal] are improving.鈥�

The one thing no one should do is try to sneak hazardous items into regular household garbage, whether for pickup or drop off at waste transfer stations.

鈥淚t puts the workers at risk and runs the risk of contaminating the environment,鈥� Combe warned.

READ ALSO: GREEN BEAT: Some hope for plastics in our future

To find out where hazardous materials can be safely disposed of, search the website or call the recycling hotline at 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) for general information on household hazardous waste and where it can be disposed, including .

More photos from the day can be viewed at the .