An annual household hazardous waste collection event in Centre County was evacuated on Friday afternoon because of an explosive substance brought to the site.
The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority shut down the event at its Transfer Road headquarters and evacuated the processing and maintenance buildings at about 1:40 p.m. “out of an abundance of caution,” on the advice of HazMat experts, education coordinator Amy Schirf said.
Centre Region HazMat and a bomb squad were on the scene and disposed of the material by detonation late Friday afternoon.
The substance had crystallized, rendering it explosive, Schirf said. The type of substance has not yet been disclosed.
No one was injured and CCRRA’s transfer station remained open.
The second day of CCRRA’s annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday is expected to continue as planned, Schirf said. The event allows resident to dispose of most hazardous household chemicals for free by appointment.
Residents who had appointments for Friday afternoon can stop by the collection any time between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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