Adopt-a-Forest Guide
This guide is also available for download in word or PDF format.Contents - Trash Disposal
Solid Waste: Licensed landfills
and transfer stations exist throughout the state and can often times be found in the
telephone directory listed under "waste disposal" or "landfills." A
complete state-wide list can be obtained by contacting the Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ), Waste Management Division, Solid Waste Program Section at
517-335-3293. Visit www.michigan.gov/deqwaste
for further information.
Tires are no longer permitted in
landfills. There are many uses for scrap tires such as crumbed rubber used on
playground floors or burned as alternate fuel. Look under Tire Disposal, Tire
Haulers, and Tire Processors in the local phone book for contacts to
make. If there are no scrap tire end-users in your community, contact a local tire
retailer who may be able to dispose of them properly with their commercial piles.
Some communities also have mosquito control programs that can assist with tire
disposal. If so, they will often be listed in the phone book under County and
Mosquito Control.
Hazardous Waste: See "Hazardous Materials" in the Safety section for proper handling instructions. Otherwise,
household hazardous waste in small quantities (such as paint cans, hairspray, cleaning
fluids, dry-cell batteries, etc.) can be legally disposed of with other trash you collect
as long as any fluids are solidified (for example, add kitty litter or sawdust to
left-over paint in the bottom of cans).
Large amounts of potentially hazardous waste (such as 55-gallon drums)
should be left on-site and reported to the DEQ.
Some communities have Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days. A list
of known collection sites can be obtained by contacting the DEQ Waste Management Division
at 517-373-0530. Your county office may also have information specific to your area.
The Department of Agriculture also has a Clean Sweep program which
collects agricultural pesticides. For further information, contact them at
517-373-9744.
Recycling/Composting: Many communities have municipal recycling and
composting centers. A listing of registered sites can be obtained by contacting the DEQ,
Waste Management Division at 517-335-3293.
Privately owned recycling facilities are generally listed in the
telephone directory under "Recycling Centers," "Scrap Metals," or
"Waste Disposal." Any appliances containing freon, such as refrigerators or
freezers, must have the freon removed prior to disposal. Businesses that reclaim freon are
generally listed in the telephone directory under "Refrigerator
Service/Repair." Scrap metals such as appliances and car parts are worth money
to recycling facilities. There should not be a cost associated with disposal of
scrap metal (often times you will receive money for turning metals in).
Lead acid batteries (such as those used in cars, boats and RVs) can be
traded in exchange for the required core charge when purchasing a new battery. If a
new battery is not needed, major battery retailers such as K Mart or Wal-Mart will often
accept them for recycling--call ahead.
Any of the above lists can also be obtained by sending a request to the
DEQ, Waste Management Division, at P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, MI 48909.
For additional information on proper waste disposal practices and
locations, visit the Department of Environmental Quality's website at http://www.michigan.gov/deq
Contents
Program
Background
How to Adopt-a-Forest
How to Organize a Successful Cleanup
Sample Flyer
What to Bring and Wear
Field Tips
Safety
Financial Support
Trash Disposal
Contacts to Make
Follow-up Suggestions
Progress Report
Frequently Asked Questions
Make a Donation
Acknowledgments
|
