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Featured are some of the products disposed of during a past Hazardous Waste Collection event. Mecosta County Conservation District district administrator Charmaine Lucas said this will be the 16th time this collection has taken place, and that it is well-received every year. (Pioneer file photo)
MECOSTA, OSCEOLA, LAKE COUNTIES — Area residents will have the opportunity to dispose of their hazardous waste at the 16th annual 2019 Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday, Oct. 12.
Taking place from 9 a.m. to noon, there will be collection sites in Lake, Osceola and Mecosta counties. During this time, local residents will have the chance to rid themselves of household hazardous waste (HHW), or materials that, if disposed of incorrectly, can cause environmental damage by contaminating ground and surface waters.
"The purpose of this program is to protect our environment," Mecosta County Conservation District district administrator Charmaine Lucas said. "If products are improperly disposed of, they have the potential to negatively impact our environment."
The Hazardous Waste Collection program is designed to keep hazardous wastes out of landfills, sewers and other public areas.
Improper disposal of HHW can threaten human health, wildlife and plant life, according to Lucas.
In cooperation with Clean Sweep, through the Michigan Water Stewardship Program, homeowners, as well as farms, green-houses, nurseries, golf courses or other end users of pesticides, mercury and other toxic and hazardous materials, can use this service.
Collection site locations include:
Lake County — Wenger Pavilion, Downtown Baldwin (behind Jones Ice Cream Parlor)
Mecosta County — Fairgrounds, 540 West Ave., Big Rapids, MI 49307
Osceola County — Road Commission North Facility, 13353 20 Mile Road, Tustin, MI 49688
Some acceptable material include (not all-inclusive): Automotive products and fuels, antifreeze, brake fluid, car wax, contaminated oil, diesel fuel, fuel oil (no tanks), gasoline, kerosene, motor oil (containers must be five gallons or less in size — No drums), oil/gas mixtures, transmission fluid, paint products, artists’ paints, deck stain, preservatives, epoxies, glue/adhesives, lead-based paint, oil-based paint, paint strippers, thinners and solvents, turpentine, varnish and sealers, yard and garden products, insect repellents and many other products.
For a full list of acceptable and unacceptable items to dispose of, visit tiny.cc/tebwdz.
