MMWA 2018 Household Special Waste Season kicks off May 1

Feb 20, 2018 | News

Last year, area residents helped keep more than 110 tons of problem wastes out of the landfill, thanks to Mid Michigan Waste Authority’s free household special waste program. This year, MMWA will offer 18 drop-off days between May and September, with opportunities to safely dispose of electronics, paint, hazardous waste, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and foam products.

The residential problem waste program is offered at no charge to residents of Saginaw County, Bethany Twp, Village of Breckenridge and Wheeler Twp. All events will be held at MMWA’s Community Resource Recovery Center, 2063 S Miller Rd, Saginaw, located at the southeast corner of Miller and Ederer Roads in James Twp.

This year, MMWA is pleased to announce that polystyrene foam recycling will be an added feature of the program’s two document shredding events. On Thursday, May 17 and Thursday, September 20 from 3 pm to 7 pm, residents may bring their confidential documents for secure on-site shredding – each person may bring the equivalent of two banker’s boxes. At the shredding events, avid recyclers may also drop off their clean foam products for recycling. Accepted items include cups, takeout containers, egg cartons, block packaging, ice chests/coolers, and other #6 foam items. Packing peanuts and food-soiled foam products cannot be accepted.

“We are very excited to launch this foam recycling pilot,” said Katharine Tessin, MMWA Administrative Director, “Foam is not an accepted recyclable in the MMWA curbside recycling program, so this gives us the opportunity to help divert yet another material from the landfill.”

MMWA is offering waste-specific drop-off events for electronics, paint, and household hazardous waste, plus an increased number of “All in One” days, allowing residents to dispose of all problem wastes at one event. The 2018 schedule also offers more evening and weekend drop-off opportunities for residents who are not able to attend weekday daytime events.

Electronics will be collected from 9 am to 1 pm on the first Tuesday of each month May through September. Accepted electronics include all types of televisions, computers, printers, monitors, laptops, keyboards, phones, scanners, cables and cords, hard drives, mice, tablets, fax machines, printers and miscellaneous computer parts. Only televisions and computer-related electronics are accepted. The program cannot accept microwaves, vacuum cleaners, radios, toasters, CD players, satellite dishes, and other household electronics and appliances. These items may be disposed of as trash in the MMWA residential curbside collection program.

Paint will be collected from 9 am to 1 pm on the second Wednesday of each month May through September. On Paint Wednesdays, residents may bring paint products, including latex, acrylic and oil-based paint, spray paint, stain, varnish and caulk. Only these items will be accepted on Paint Wednesdays.

A household hazardous waste day will be held from 9 am to 1 pm on Thursday, August 16. On this day, toxics like motor oil, gasoline, antifreeze, mercury, wiper fluid, kerosene, acids, aerosols, fluorescent bulbs, lawn and garden chemicals, glues and adhesive, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, lead acid batteries, miscellaneous cleaners, degreasers, metal cleaners, and smoke detectors will be collected, as well as over-the-counter and prescription medication.

The “all in one” combo days for electronics, paint, and hazardous waste, will be held on Tuesday, May 22 from 3 pm to 7 pm, Saturday, June 23 from 9 am to 1 pm, Wednesday, July 25 from 3 pm to 7 pm, Saturday, August 25 from 9 am to 1 pm, and Thursday, September 27 from 3 pm to 7 pm. At these events, residents may bring all items on the accepted materials lists for the electronics, paint and hazardous waste drop-off days.

At all 18 drop-off events, MMWA will accept used eyeglasses and eyeglass cases that will be donated to the Lions Club Recycle for Sight program, which provides glasses to people in need.

There is no charge for disposal of any approved items, including CRT (cathode ray tube) televisions and computer monitors. Donations to help defray the cost of future events will be accepted.

On hazardous waste days and all-in-one days, residents can also drop off unused, unwanted, or expired medications for proper disposal. Only prescription and over-the-counter medications are accepted: no needles or sharps.

Residents may opt to dispose of latex paint in their curbside trash, as long as the paint has solidified. If the paint can is less than ¼ full, remove the lid and place the can in a safe, well-ventilated area. For fuller cans, add cat litter or shredded paper to solidify the paint. Once the paint has hardened, lids should be removed and the cans placed next to the regular household trash so the driver knows the paint is not wet. This process does not work on oil-based paints, which must be brought to a paint collection day for proper disposal.

Unknown chemicals or substances should not be brought to any drop-off events. Residents who possess those items should call MMWA to make special drop-off arrangements.

For safe preparation and transport of problem wastes in your vehicle, please follow these guidelines: Keep chemical products in original containers whenever possible. Do not mix products together. Be sure all containers are tightly sealed, and placed in sturdy boxes in an upright position.  Never transport leaking or open containers. Containers up to five-gallon in size are allowed, but containers cannot be returned. Business, farm, and school wastes, explosives, propane tanks, ammunition, tires, CRT tubes that have been removed from televisions or computers, and asbestos are not accepted.

If residents encounter a long line, they should come back later during the event or return on another scheduled drop-off day. Safety is a priority at these events, so cars should not wait at the side of the road. All events will close promptly at their advertised end time.

Residents should bring only accepted materials on the appropriate day. For example, paint and household chemicals cannot be accepted on an electronics collection day. Residents who have problem wastes from more than one category should bring them to the “All in One” drop-off days.

For more information, call MMWA at (989) 781-9555 or visit www.recyclemotion.org.

MMWA Reminds Residents of Proper U.S. Flag Disposal

May 26, 2017 | News

Celebrate Earth Day with MMWA at the zoo on Sat., April 22

Mar 14, 2017 | News

Mid Michigan Waste Authority will host its annual Earth Day celebration on Sat., April 22, 2017, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square in Saginaw. This environmentally-themed event promises a fun-filled day for children of all ages and their families. To make the festivities even more appealing, MMWA is offering free admission to the first 400 people who bring a recyclable beverage container.

The eco-experience starts at the entrance gate with a visit to the Waste Management recycling truck, as zoo visitors turn in their recyclable containers. Inside the zoo, MMWA and more than a dozen community partners will offer free resources, games, activities, face painting, a recycling-themed scavenger hunt, educational exhibits and trash-to-treasure crafts in the event area near the horse barn. All children’s activities are free, thanks to sponsorships from Waste Management and 1st State Bank.

Participating organizations include the Saginaw Valley State University Greenhouse, the Downtown Saginaw Farmers Market, SVRC Industries, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Consumers Energy, Saginaw County Parks and Recreation, Chippewa Nature Center and more.

Free re-useable market totes made from recycled plastic bottles will be handed out by MMWA, one per family while supplies last. This giveaway is made possible thanks to the support of ReCommunity Recycling and Roberts, Boehler, and Fisher, PC.

April 22 is the first day the zoo is open to the general public this year, so the Earth Day event is a great opportunity to be among the first visitors of the season to enjoy more than 10 acres of beautiful tree-filled parkland, animal exhibits, colorful gardens, the beloved miniature train, the region’s only hand-carved carousel, and so much more. Visitors will also get to meet Izzy and Rachel, the endangered Mexican wolves who became part of the zoo family in December.

For visitors who do not arrive in time for the free admission, entrance to the zoo is just $5 per person, and free for infants 11 months of age and under. The zoo is located at 1730 S Washington Avenue in Saginaw.

Mid Michigan Waste Authority is a government entity providing comprehensive residential solid waste services to approximately 70,000 households in 34 communities across the greater Saginaw Valley. To learn more about MMWA and the Earth Day event, visit www.recyclemotion.org.

Yard waste season starts first week of April

Mar 2, 2017 | News

The first week of April marks the start of Mid Michigan Waste Authority’s seasonal curbside yard waste collection for 2017. Thirteen of MMWA’s 34 municipal members offer residential yard waste services.

Residents in the Village of Birch Run, Bridgeport Twp, Buena Vista Twp, Carrollton Twp, James Twp, Kochville Twp, City of Saginaw, Saginaw Twp, Spaulding Twp, Village of St Charles, Thomas Twp, Tittabawassee Twp and the City of Zilwaukee receive weekly yard waste service and may begin setting out yard waste cans and bags on their first regular collection day in April.

All yard waste materials must be placed in paper yard waste bags or in 35 gallon or smaller garbage cans that have a “Yard Waste” sticker affixed to the front of the can.  Twigs must not protrude more than 12“ above the container.  Individual cans and bags cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each.

Brush, which includes branches greater than 2” in diameter but less than 6”, is managed separately from yard waste. State law allows brush in the landfill, so it is treated as trash under the MMWA program.  One 3’ x 4’ bundle of brush secured with twine may be set out next to regular trash at any time of year.

Some MMWA member communities offer limited-time brush drop-off sites or curbside collection.  Residents should contact their community’s municipal office directly to find out if this service is available.

Yard waste stickers are available at municipal offices in participating communities or free through MMWA.  To order yard waste stickers or for more information on yard waste guidelines, contact MMWA at (989) 781-9555.

MMWA launches safe needle disposal campaign

Aug 11, 2016 | News

It is estimated that about 9 million Americans use sharps and syringes to manage their medical conditions at home, which adds up to about 3 billion injections outside of traditional healthcare facilities per year. Those who are unaware of safe needle disposal methods may be tossing loose needles in their trash cans or recycling bins, posing a serious risk of injury and infection to collection workers, neighbors, children, and pets.

Mid Michigan Waste Authority has launched Be Smart with Sharps, a new educational campaign aimed at preventing accidental needle stick injuries to sanitation workers, and anyone else who comes into contact with curbside refuse materials. Flyers have been distributed to local pharmacies, dialysis centers, and other healthcare clinics treating patients who may use needles at home.

“We are concerned about the health and wellbeing of our collection workers, but this really is a broader public safety issue,” said Mid Michigan Waste Authority Administrative Director Katharine Tessin. “Sharps can carry communicable diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, and if they are loose in curbside trash or recycling, they are a danger to everyone who is passing by.”

The campaign builds on the work MMWA has been doing since 2014 to help educate residents about how to safely dispose of their sharps. When trash and recycling collection workers observe loose needles in curbside materials, the resident at that address is sent proper disposal guidelines, including the Be Smart with Sharps flyer.

While there are laws and regulations governing medical waste generated by health care facilities, there are no such regulations for the disposal of household-generated needles. The good news is, it’s not difficult for residents to safely prepare sharps for disposal in their curbside trash. It takes just a few simple steps to make the needle disposal process safe for everyone.

Proper containment includes using an empty rigid plastic receptacle, like a laundry detergent container, to hold used needles. Once the container is 2/3 full, it should be tightly closed and sealed with masking or duct tape. Clearly write “SHARPS” on the container in large letters, and discard along with trash, not recycling.

Residents with questions about disposing of sharps in their household trash should contact MMWA at (989) 781-9555 for more information.

Mid Michigan Waste Authority is a government entity providing comprehensive residential solid waste services to 70,000 households in 35 communities across the Saginaw Valley area. To learn more about MMWA, visit www.recyclemotion.org.