Acceptable Materials
The Washtenaw County Home Toxics Center provides waste diversion to residents. Wastes from businesses, government entities, and other organizations are not accepted.
Acceptable Items
These items are accepted at the Home Toxic Center:
- Acids and Bases
- Adhesive, Glue
- Aerosols (excluding refrigerants)
- Automotive Fluids
- Antifreeze
- Brake or power steering fluid
- Diesel fuel
- Gasoline
- Motor oil
- Transmission fluid
- Windshield washer fluid
- Ballasts (must be removed from fixture)
- Some ballasts contain a highly toxic type of chemical called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We cannot accept leaking/ruptured ballasts due to safety concerns. Please call ERG Environmental Services in Livonia at 734-437-9650 if your ballast is leaking or rupturing.
- Batteries - Battery packaging instructions
- Automotive (Lead Acid) Batteries: Please keep them separate from household batteries.
- Household Batteries: All types are accepted. Please bring sorted batteries in clear plastic bags or containers. No more than two (2) gallon-size bags in one drop off. Please follow the Battery packaging instructions to prevent fires.
- Bulbs - Fluorescent lights packaging instructions
- CFLs
- LEDs
- U-shaped tubes
- Tubes up to four feet in length are accepted
- Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Compressed Gases
- Butane tanks
- Helium tanks
- Propane tanks
- MAPP gas
- Refrigerants
- Cooking Oil - The oil must be liquid and pourable.
- Canola,
- Olive
- Peanut
- Vegetable, etc.
- Fabric Dye
- Fire Extinguishers
- Flammables
- Gasoline/motor oil mix
- Kerosene
- Starting fluids
- Flares
- Handheld Electronics with built-in batteries
- Cell phones
- Tablets
- Handheld gaming devices
- Mp3 players
- Rechargeable electronics
- Home Cleaning Products
- Ammonia
- Bleach
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- Polishes
- Home Repair Products
- Glues
- Caulking
- Inhalers
- Liquid Asphalt and Roofing Tar
- Mercury - Mercury packaging instructions
- Mercury-Containing Devices - Mercury-containing devices packaging instructions
- thermometers
- thermostats
- Mothballs
- Nail Polish and Remover
- Paint - Paints and stains packaging instructions
- Latex Paint: Only paint that is still liquid is accepted.
- If the cans are empty or the paint is totally dried out, put cans in the trash with the lid off. To dry latex paint at home so you can put it in the trash, add materials like clay-based cat litter to the paint to speed up the drying process.
- Oil Paint: Paints and primers- with or without lead accepted. Accepted liquid or dry, as well as rags and other items contaminated with oil paint.
- Latex Paint: Only paint that is still liquid is accepted.
- Paint Thinners, Removers, Strippers, Solvents, Stains, and Varnishes
- Pesticides - Any Michigan resident or business can bring these items to us as part of the Clean Sweep Program through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
- Herbicides
- Insecticides
- Fungicides
- DDT
- Chlordane, etc.
- Photography Chemicals
- Pool Chemicals
- Polishes and Cleaners
- Propane Tanks: 1 lb. and 20 lb. both accepted
- Rat and Rodent Poison
- Rust Remover
- Medical Sharps - Sharps packaging instructions
- Smoke Detectors
Unacceptable Items
These items cannot be brought to the Washtenaw County Home Toxics program for disposal.
- Asbestos
- Batteries in a serial configuration (*see below for more information)
- Business Waste
- Compost / Yard Waste
- Empty Containers
- Electronic Waste
- Explosives, Ammunition, and Fireworks
- Fertilizer and plant food without herbicide, fungicide, or pesticide
- Foam Packaging and Containers (Styrofoam - Accepted at the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station and Recovery Yard)
- Fluorescent tube bulbs longer than 4 feet in length (Accepted at the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station and the Chelsea Transfer Station)
- Freon Appliances (PDF) (Accepted at the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station and Recovery Yard, and Ypsilanti Township Compost Site, click here for more appliance disposal information)
- Froth-Pak Insulation (Do-it-yourself home foam sealants/insulations/adhesive cylinders with spray nozzles )
- Incandescent and Halogen light bulbs
- Medical Waste such as blood, gauze, linen, etc.
- Medication and Pharmaceuticals (Visit DontFlushDrugs.com to find local drop-off locations)
- Chemotherapy Waste: ERG Environmental Services
- Laboratory Chemicals (ERG)
- Oxygen and CO2 Tanks (ERG)
- Radioactive Materials (Contact EGLE for assistance)
- Recyclables like cardboard, plastics, glass, etc.
- Tires (Accepted at the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station and Recovery Yard, and select Washtenaw County Clean-Up Day Events)
- Trash
*Batteries in a serial configuration are connected in a way that each contributes to the overall voltage of batteries (see picture below). These voltages are too high for our staff to handle safely.