What do you do with large household trash items such as big, old television consoles and old tires that aren’t acceptable for disposal at the curb on trash day?

Recognizing the need for residents to be able to purge their households of hard-to-get-rid-of items, Emmaus Borough Council member Jeff Shubzda organized the borough’s first drop-off day at the Emmaus Fire Training Ground property along Kline’s Lane Oct. 5.

It was successful beyond anyone’s wildest dreams as some 500 vehicles lined up at the fire training ground property and along Klines Lane almost to Chestnut Street.

Shubzda said the day would not have been possible without the cooperation of Whitetail Disposal, of Montgomery County, the borough’s contracted trash hauler. “They secured all the necessary permits, provided manpower and equipment to cope with the mountain of items that residents needed to dispose of, but had no reasonable alternative.”

A Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection grant provided the financial assistance to sponsor the disposal event

Emmaus Fire Department personnel were on hand to help with traffic control and to provide any emergency assistance needed.

Shubzda said he has been “trying to do this for two years” and finally was able to organize the event with Emmaus Borough Council’s backing.

He said a similar day would be held Oct. 25 for household hazardous materials like old paint cans and household and garden hazardous material containers.