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

• 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
• Batteries - Please follow the Battery packaging instructions to prevent fires
  • Automotive (Lead Acid) Batteries  Please keep them separate from household batteries.
  • Household Batteries
• 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
  • 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 are accepted. Accepted liquid or dry, as well as rags and other items contaminated with oil paint.
• 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