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.