A community member submitted this claim to the “What Is True?” fact-checking service: “Forrest and Lamar County residents have no year-round options for disposing of hazardous household waste or large appliances if they miss ‘Right Way to Throw Away Day.’”

Our rating: Misleading.

While hazardous chemical disposal remains limited, both counties offer year-round options for disposing of certain bulky items like appliances, electronics and yard debris. For more details, read the full report below:

Some residents in Forrest and Lamar counties believe that if they miss “Right Way to Throw Away Day,” they’re stuck with hazardous chemicals and bulky trash for the rest of the year.

But that’s not entirely true — especially when it comes to large items like appliances, electronics and yard debris.

While options for hazardous waste are limited, residents do have year-round access to services that can safely dispose of many other hard-to-handle materials.

In Lamar County, white goods are collected on Saturdays throughout the year at designated drop-off sites. These include items such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, furniture, mattresses, tires without rims, electronics, batteries and some construction debris.

Last year alone, the county collected more than 7 million pounds of material through this program.

Michael Lamb, Lamar County’s sanitation director, said the effort helps reduce illegal dumping, which can harm both neighborhoods and the environment.

“Residents often think we’ll pick up everything,” Lamb said. “You’d be surprised what they leave out for us, but the trucks can’t handle it.”

He added that abandoned appliances and furniture often become eyesores and safety hazards, attracting pests and lowering property values.

The white goods program is for Lamar County residents only and is funded by grants from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Businesses and contractors must use commercial waste services, and certain items — including tires still on rims, oversized tires, household chemicals, medical waste and insulation — are not accepted.

For natural debris, the Lamar County Road Department operates a fleet of eight trucks to pick up leaves, brush and tree limbs. Debris should be placed off the side of the road in an accessible location for pickup. For more information, Lamar County residents can call 601-794-6663.

In Hattiesburg, residents can place heavy trash at the curb for weekly collection. Heavy trash includes large limbs, shrubs and bulky items that cannot fit inside garbage or recycling cans.

For a special pickup, residents can call the Action Line at 601-545-4500. However, hazardous waste — including paint, light bulbs, batteries, chemicals, tires and glass — is not accepted in any curbside collection.

For Forrest County residents outside city limits, the Board of Supervisors provides guidelines for curbside debris pickup by the county Road Department:

— Brush and tree limbs should be cut no longer than 10 feet.

— No more than 5 cubic yards of vegetation should be placed at the curb at one time.

— Leaves and pine straw must be bagged.

— Natural vegetation must be separated from tires, scrap metal and white goods. Mixed piles will not be collected until properly sorted.

— Household garbage is not accepted.

— Debris should be placed at least 3 feet from any fence line.

In addition, natural vegetation should not be placed under power lines or near fire hydrants, utility poles, utility boxes or mailboxes. For more information on Forrest County services, residents can call 601-545-6000.

For hazardous materials such as paint, solvents and automotive chemicals, disposal remains a challenge. These substances must either be stored until the next “Right Way to Throw Away Day” or handled by a licensed household hazardous waste company — often at the resident’s expense.

“It’s critical not to pour any chemicals down the drain or try to sneak them into the garbage,” Lamb said. “You think you’re easily or cheaply getting rid of it, but it can come back tenfold. It will leach into the ground and into water, endangering you and everyone in the county.”

Ultimately, while “Right Way to Throw Away Day” remains the most accessible and affordable option for many residents, it is not the only one — especially for large household items and vegetation. Safe disposal requires some effort and planning, but it’s a matter of public health and community well-being.

This report was produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center as part of its “What Is True?” fact-checking service. The center’s researchers investigate local claims to help the public separate fact from fiction. To learn more or submit a claim for review, visit rhcjcnews.com/witreq.