By Arthur Mullen, Director
VBT Planning & Economic Development
Fall is the perfect time for cleaning up one’s house, garage, workshop, medicine cabinet, or under the kitchen sink.
Van Buren Township is supporting residents by co-sponsoring its annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 19.
Household hazardous wastes are a serious concern. They can cause poisoning of small children and contaminating of resident’s homes with spills. Incorrectly disposed of hazardous chemicals can lead to environmental contamination.
Residents should look in their kitchen and bathrooms, garages, workshops, garden sheds, and basements for any items they no longer use or have expired. Read the labels. Bring them in to the collection day to ensure their safe disposal.
How to identify a household hazardous waste? If the label states it is toxic, poisonous, ignitable, flammable, corrosive, or reactive (explosive if exposed to heat, flame, air, shock, or water), it requires special storage and disposal. Other terms to look for include: Warning, Caution, Danger, or Poison.
VBT is working in partnership with The Environmental Quality Co. to assist residents in safely disposing of their household hazardous wastes.
Residents are asked to bring the items in tightly sealed containers to prevent spillage while in transport. All containers brought to the collection site must be left there. No products in milk jugs will be accepted because containers puncture too easily.
Unacceptable items include: explosives and ammunition, industrial waste, tires, and asbestos.
This one day drop-off is free to Van Buren Township residents.
The drop-off site is located in the EQ East Parking Lot, 49350 N. I-94 Service Drive, between Beck and Rawsonville roads.
For more information about what items are acceptable, residents may contact VBT Community Services at (734) 699-8926 during township business hours – 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.