STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – Do you have unwanted items in your home -- like old paint, batteries, or fire extinguishers -- that you don’t know what to do with?
There are certain types of products and liquids that people use every day, but can’t be thrown away or recycled normally. These items are known as household hazardous waste, and require proper disposal, per Michigan law.
To help residents get rid of their unwanted household hazardous waste in a safe way, many Michigan cities and townships provide special collection services or events.
The city of Sterling Heights, for example is hosting a household hazardous waste collection event for residents only on Saturday, April 20. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sterling Heights Public Works building on 18 Mile Road, waste management staff will be collecting certain hazardous items for disposal.
Here’s what hazardous waste the city will accept for collection on Saturday:
- Paint and paint products
- Latex paint
- Paint stripper
- Aerosol cans
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Fertilizers
- Wood preservatives
- Automotive batteries
- Alkaline batteries
- Ni-Cd batteries
- Lead acid batteries
- Propane cylinders
- Mercury
- Acids
- Bases
- Gasoline
- Lighter Fluid
- Kerosene
- Oil
- Moth balls
- Antifreeze
- Fuel
- Oxidizers
- Fire extinguishers
- Smoke detectors
- Floor care products
- Furniture polish
- Medical sharps (needles and syringes)
- Medicine (over the counter)
- Glue
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Varnish
- Pool chemicals
- Polishes
- Cleaners
The following items will not be accepted for collection:
- Commercial waste
- Air conditioning units
- Ammunition or explosives
- Freon
- Appliances
- Construction debris or material
- DEA controlled substances
- Lab chemicals
- Miscellaneous car parts
- Non-standard gases
- Radioactive material
- Shock-sensitive materials
- Standard household trash
- Yard waste
- Unknown or unidentified gases
- Oxygen cylinder
- MAP gas
- Electronics
Sterling Heights residents can recycle electronics at a separate city collection event on Saturday, April 27. That event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the same location.
Other disposal options
Unable to attend this weekend’s event, or not a resident of Sterling Heights? No worries.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy -- known as EGLE -- offers some other options for people looking to dispose of hazardous materials.
Donation is an option, if the items could still be of use to someone else.
"Common options for donating include offering paints, stains, cleansers, electronics, etc. to local parks, churches, art counsels, non-profit housing authorities, shelters, and neighbors,” EGLE’s website reads.
Some retailers also offer collection services for recycling or disposing of hazardous materials, typically when you purchase a replacement product. EGLE says this service is common for items like electronics, batteries, light bulbs, medications, motor oil, and antifreeze at department stores, hardware stores, auto parts stores, and pharmacies.
EGLE also has a list of hazardous waste drop-off locations for each Michigan county. See that list right here.
---> Related: 7 items you can’t recycle curbside in Michigan