Household Hazardous Waste Program
Household Waste Guide
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Household Hazardous Waste Program
Household hazardous waste is accepted yearround on weekdays at four centers around the county by appointment so that you can drop it off quickly, safely and efficiently. This is done by limiting the number of appointments that can be made for each time segment of a collection day.
Saturday dates requiring no appointment are also scheduled periodically throughout the spring, summer and fall.
View the 2009 Hazardous Waste Collections Schedule.
The Kent County Department of Public Works has 4 permanent collection sites in the County located at:
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Materials that CAN be accepted
| Automotive Products
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Indoor Pesticides
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| Lawn and Garden Products
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Workshop /Painting Supplies
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Other Flammable Products
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Miscellaneous
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Materials that CANNOT be accepted
- Latex paint (water based) – may be dried out and placed in your regular trash.
- Friable asbestos – Call the local Michigan Department of Environmental Quality at (616) 356-0500 for proper removal guidelines and disposal requirements and regulations.
- Barrels or large drums - nothing larger than a five-gallon container.
- Explosives, ammunition, fireworks and flares – contact your local public safety agency (sheriff’s department, police department, state police)
- Materials from farms, businesses, offices, schools or institutions.
- Medical waste
- Smoke detectors and radioactive materials
- Propane, helium & other tanks (refillable)
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| We store hazardous products in drums in these divided sheds build specifically for hazardous materials. Each section safely stores corrosive products, poisons and flammable liquids. A fire suppression system is installed in each container in case a spark or chemical reaction causes a fire. |
| What is Hazardous Waste? A product is considered hazardous if it has one or more of the following properties:
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If you have a substance that cannot be accepted, see our online household waste guide for other options on how to dispose of it.
HHW Reduction, Reuse, Recycle, and Disposal Options
The actions of reducing, reusing, recycling, and properly disposing - listed in order of EPA's preferred waste management hierarchy – are all important tools to safely manage hazardous waste.
The following suggestions can help reduce hazardous wastes in your home:
- Before you buy a product, read the label and make sure that it will do what you want. Once you buy something you are also responsible for disposing of it properly.
- Do not buy more than what you need. That way, you will not need to dispose of the surplus.
- Read and follow directions on how to use a product and dispose of the container.
