Ashes, hot – Fireplace and grill ashes must be cold and bagged before placing in the cart. Why: Hot ashes can start fires in the cart at the curb, in the collection truck, at the transfer station, or even in the landfill.

Household Toxics - including oil paints, pesticides, solvents, weed killers, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, mercury thermometers, photography and pool chemicals, and other products labeled Danger, Warning, Poison, Flammable or Corrosive. Never discard these items in the trash or flush down the drain. Use them up as described on the label and discard empty container as refuse or deliver partially-unused containers to the Washtenaw County Home Toxics Center, 222-3950.

Freon Appliances -  including refrigerators, and air conditioners must have the Freon gas extracted and given a certificate of removal for recycling. Freon removal is provided for-fee at the Drop-Off Station. Working appliances in good shape can be donated for reuse (new web page).

Recyclables - Place recyclable paper and container items in the recycling cart.

Televisions, Computers and Electronics -  Consult the free electronics take-back program coordinated by the State of Michigan (new web page) for safe disposal. Why: Monitors contain toxic materials, including 3-8 pounds of loose lead, a known neurotoxin, and can be released into landfills to pose potential groundwater contamination.

Yard wastes are prohibited by state law from burial in Michigan landfills. Prepare your yard waste for the Compostable collection (opens to new web page).

Michigan landfill-prohibited residential materials include liquids, deposit beverage containers, used motor oil, whole vehicle tires, lead acid batteries, yard clippings, sewage, PCBs, asbestos, radioactive and/or hazardous waste. Link to the MDEQ brochure (pdf).

Safe Refuse Disposal

The following materials are acceptable inside refuse carts although some special preparation may be required:

Normal household trash is allowed - Up to the weight printed on the outside of the trash cart.

Animal waste & diapers – Must be secured in double plastic bags to reduce odors before placing in the trash cart.

Batteries – See separate battery web page and chart. Alkaline batteries may be placed in the trash. Rechargeable batteries should be taken back to stores or drop-off sites for free, separated recycling as listed at www.rbrc.org. Car batteries are required by the state to be returned to auto service centers and a cash rebate may be provided.

Building materials - Small quantities of building materials such as painted wood, pane glass, mirrors, flooring, etc., may be placed inside the refuse carts as long as the refuse does not stick out above the top of the cart and the overall cart weight does not exceed the maximum cart weight limit.

Light bulbs – Michigan regulations currently permit placing residential light bulbs in the trash. However, to reduce the release into the environment of toxic mercury from fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs, please recycle at the Drop-Off Station (variable fee), the Washtenaw County Home Toxics Center (free) or to Gross Electric 2232 S. Industrial (variable fee), or Home Depot, 3300 Carpenter, Ypsilanti (no fee for compact fluorescent bulbs).

Medical waste, needles & sharps - Store used needles at home in a sturdy, marked container. Seal sharps containers and put inside a trash bag before placing in the refuse cart. Dispose of other home medical waste in trash bags placed inside your cart. Note: Some pharmacists offer a free sharps collection program. Never place sharps in recycling bins or place loose sharps in trash! Please see Washtenaw County’s medical waste web page, www.dontflushdrugs.com.

Paints:

• Paint, empty, dry cans - May be placed in the recycling cart with the paint can lid removed
•  Paint, latex (water-based) - Latex paint is acceptable as refuse if/when: 1) the cans are dried out with cat litter, “oil dry” or other absorbent; 2) the lids are securely reattached; and 3) the sealed paint cans are placed inside the refuse carts. Why: Liquid wastes are banned from Michigan landfills. Also, partially-full paint containers break open upon compaction in trash trucks and leak into the street.
• Paint, oil based (e.g., brushes cannot be cleaned with water) Prohibited in Refuse. Take to Washtenaw County’s Home Toxics Center.

      Sawdust, cold ashes, loose packing materials - Must be secured in plastic bags to prevent blowing during collection.