We can’t thank Wacker Chemical and Anderson Development enough for hosting their annual household hazardous waste collection events every May.
This year they have raised over £80,000. of Lenawee County residents.
But now that the event is over, it begs the question: what do you do with the household waste you collect the rest of the year?
For those who don’t know, household hazardous waste includes things found around the house that require special handling rather than going into the regular trash.
Some examples are:
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Solvent-based paints
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Used engine oil
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Certain pesticides
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Unknown liquids
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Batteries
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Fluorescent lamps
Lenawee County does not collect household hazardous waste, so residents should consider other options for its disposal.
Recycle Ann Arbor accepts motor oils, vegetable oils and light bulbs. They charge per vehicle and the cost is $3 per day for standard vehicles and $15 per day for large vehicles. ERG Environment of Livonia can handle most household hazardous waste, including paint. They charge 75 cents per pound, with a $25 minimum.
However, there are some Lenawee County options for specific hazardous items. For example, you can contact your local auto repair shop or auto parts store to see if they will accept your used motor oil.
The Lenawee County Buildings and Grounds Department will crush and dispose of fluorescent lamps for a nominal fee on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They only take the straight, fluorescent long tubes. Call 517-264-4738 for more information.
Battery Wholesale, 1002 N. Main St., in Adrian, accepts all recyclable batteries. If you call them at 517-263-3462 they can help you determine which ones can be recycled.
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You can search for drop-off locations for specific items in the Michigan Recycling Directory, found here: recyclesearch.com/profile/michigan-directory. But if you don’t want to leave the county, if possible, try to find a place where you can safely store your household hazardous waste until next spring’s event.
— Julie Maurer is the Solid Waste and Materials Management Program Coordinator for the Lenawee County Health Department. You can contact her at 517-264-5263 or via email at julie.maurer@lenawee.mi.us.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Julie Maurer: What to do with piled up waste after municipal collection
