Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes products that we purchase and use every day in our homes that can harm us or the environment if they are not handled properly. Use the following resources to locate HHW drop-off locations in Michigan:
HHW Hazards
Common household products that are a HHW when discarded are shown below. To see if a material is a HHW, look for words such as ‘warning,’ ‘caution,’ ‘flammable,’ ‘toxic,’ ‘poison,’ ‘corrosive,’ ‘oxidizer,’ etc. on the labels. If you have leftover, unwanted household materials that are hazardous, it is best to routinely take them to a local HHW collection if one is available. Never pour HHW into a storm drain or down a drain in your home. If a collection is not available, contact your trash hauler to see if there are special instructions for safely disposing of the material in the regular trash.
Questions About Health Effects
For help with questions about the health effects from contaminants in the home and environment, contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Toxics Hotline at 800-648-6942. DHHS has toxicologists on hand to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For help if someone accidentally swallows something that may be toxic, contact the Michigan Poison Center at 800-222-1222 or call your local emergency responder phone number for help.
REDUCE HHW
- Check the label before you buy – If you see a cautionary notice, understand that this material will become a household hazardous waste if not used up properly.
- Use the product as the manufacturer instructs – Companies are required to test their products to comply with federal regulations. Directions should be followed to get maximum benefit from the products you use without compromising your safety.
- Buy only what you need – Some products cost more to dispose than they do to purchase. So use forethought when purchasing products that may be costly for you or your community to dispose.
- Store products safely – Children, pets, and others may accidentally injure themselves if products are not safely stored. So make sure these types of materials are stored according to manufacturer instructions, out of harm’s way. If you have questions about proper handling of household hazardous waste, contact your County Recycling and HHW Coordinator, wastewater treatment plant or department of public works.
HHW MATERIALS
- Acids/Bases – Materials like muriatic acid, battery acid, trisodium phosphate and swimming pool chemicals can readily burn skin. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for collection options for corrosive materials.
- Adhesives – Solvent-based adhesives can be toxic and ignitable. Examples of solvent-based adhesives include instant super glue, shoe glue, flooring and roofing adhesive.
- Aerosol Cans – Many products are delivered in aerosol cans. Aerosol cans are used to deliver cooking sprays, degreasing materials, lubricating materials, and even medications. Aerosol cans often contain materials that are ignitable, corrosive, and toxic. When compacted, aerosol cans can also present an explosion hazard. Check with your local recycler to see if they accept empty aerosol cans without hazardous materials. If they don’t, see the lists/directories at the top of this page for additional aerosol can collection options near you.
- Ammunition/Fireworks – Ammunition, fireworks, and flares that are no longer needed or may be compromised due to age, moisture impact of or other factors may remain explosive and should be handled through a household hazardous waste collection or hazardous waste vendor when disposed. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for explosive device collection options near you.
- Antifreeze – Antifreeze is a mixture of water, coolant, and additives. It is used to protect engines and other equipment from overheating and corroding. It also protects engines from freezing in low temperatures. If you maintain your personal vehicles, boats, or home solar collectors, you may have waste antifreeze. Waste antifreeze when ingested can harm the kidneys, nervous system, lungs and heart. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for antifreeze collection options near you.
- Batteries – Batteries are used in many products. They contain metals that may be toxic and acids that can burn. Lead acid batteries are found in cars. Dry cell batteries are commonly used in flashlights and toys. Rechargeable batteries are often found in power tools, cameras, and phones. Button batteries or lithium batteries are often found in hearing aids, watches, and other small electronic devices. See the US DOT advisory of battery transport and consider taping the ends of dry cell, rechargeable, and lithium batteries so they do not touch each other and potentially spark during transport. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for battery collection options near you. If a convenient drop-off location is not available through those resources, the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation sponsors free collection and recycling of rechargeable batteries throughout the country in cooperation with retail partners.
- Beauty Aids – Materials like hair spray, nail polish remover, and perfume often contain petrochemicals in them and can be ignitable. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to recycling beauty aids.
- Cleansers – Cleansers often have a very high or very low pH and can burn the skin. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for collection options for corrosive materials.
- Compressed Gas Cylinders – Compressed gas cylinders, like small and large propane canisters pose an explosion hazard and contain a flammable gas. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for collection options for compressed gas cylinders that cannot be exchanged for recycling at the time of purchase of a replacement cylinder. If a collection option is not available, some scrap metal recyclers or commercial gas cylinder or welding suppliers may be able to help identify local collection options.
- Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigs or vapes) – E-cigs or vapes may have nicotine in them which is toxic and a lithium battery which may spark and cause a fire. Where available, e-cigs and vapes should be taken to a collection so the toxic nicotine component can be incinerated. In some cases, the lithium battery may be able to be recycled too, depending on the type of e-cig and vape. See the lists above for drop off location options for these materials.
- Electronic Waste (e-waste) – Electronics, such as computers, computer monitors, televisions, laptops, VCRs, cell phones, printers, computer mice, remote controls, telephones, video games, fax machines, and printers, often contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and fire retardants. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to recycle e-waste. To find a registered manufacturer collection program website, see the EGLE Registered Electronic Waste Take Back Program List and learn more about the EGLE’s e-waste program at Michigan.gov/EGLEeWaste.
- Foam Food Containers and Packing Materials – Foam food containers or packing materials are made from polystyrene. Like plastic, they are not biodegradable. Where available recycling clean foam containers is encouraged. See the Home for Foam map of foam recycling drop of programs to find recycling locations near you.
- Gasoline and Other Solvents – Gasoline and other fuels are ignitable and toxic. So are most solvents. Breathing even small amounts of vapors can cause nose and throat irritation, breathing difficulties, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to recycle gasoline and solvents.
- Light Bulbs – Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), traditional fluorescent bulbs, green tip fluorescent bulbs, light emitting diode bulbs, and high intensity discharge lamps are a popular way to reduce energy use, but may include toxic materials like mercury, lead, and arsenic. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to recycle light bulbs. For information about how to respond to a mercury spill in your home, see Michigan.gov/Mercury and the “Mercury Spill Quick Guide” and “How to Clean Up a Broken CFL.”
- Medications – Medications are biologically active chemicals. When not secured and taken as directed, they can be toxic and addictive. Medications should be stored in their original containers in a secure manner, so they are not easy to access. When they are no longer needed, they should be disposed through a household take back program where possible. Search the EGLE interactive map to locate controlled substance, solid medication and liquid medication collections across Michigan. To determine if your medication is a controlled substance, please see this list. If a collection is not available, follow the instruction in the Save a Life Card or MI EnviroMINUTE YouTube video. Learn more about drug disposal at Michigan.gov/EGLEDrugDisposal
- Medical Infectious Waste – Medical waste includes materials like unwanted needles and lancets, also called sharps. Where a collection is available, these items are generally disinfected prior to being recycled or disposal. To find a medical waste collection, please see the EGLE interactive map or contact your County Recycling and HHW Coordinator. Learn more about medical waste disposal at Michigan.gov/EGLEMedWaste
- Mercury – For decades mercury has received attention as a serious pollutant because it is toxic and it bioaccumulates in living organisms. Mercury can be found in unwanted thermostats and thermometer. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to recycle elemental mercury
- Paints and Stains – Oil-based paint and stains often contain toxic solvents and pigments. Latex paint sometimes contains toxic pigments. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to recycle paints and stains. For additional options for paint recycling, search PaintCare Inc. drop off sites.
- Pesticides – Pesticides are designed to be toxic, so they should be managed carefully and taken to a collection that will provide for them to be incinerated, to destroy the chemicals in the pesticides. Be sure to follow the label instructions at all times as required by law. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to have unwanted pesticides incinerated.
- Smoke Detectors – Some smoke detectors use a tiny radioactive source to detect smoke. You will know if it does because it will have a radiation symbol printed on its label. The best way to get rid of a smoke detector with a radioactive source is to send it back to the manufacturer. Check the label for contact information or check this list published by the United States Postal Service. If the manufacturer does not have a take back program and the smoke detector HAS NOT been damaged, it is safe to dispose of it by ordinary municipal trash. If the smoke detector HAS been damaged, please contact EGLE Radioactive Materials Unit at [email protected] so that we can help ensure that it is disposed of safely.
- Tires – Scrap tires pose a fire risk and a human health risk as mosquito breeding grounds. Learn more about scrap tire handling, disposal and recycling requirements, see Michigan.gov/ScrapTires. See the EGLE list of registered scrap tire collection sites to find a location that can take your unwanted tires.
- Used Motor Oil – Oil picks up small particles of metal and dirt as it lubricates a car engine which can make it toxic. See the Household Do-It-Yourselfer (DIY) Used Motor Oil and Filters Guide to learn more about recycling household used oil. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for options to recycle used motor oil.
