From Andy Shannon, DEQ Medical Waste Expert:

"It depends upon the source of the monitors; whether they were generated in a residence (non-regulated) or whether they were generated in a facility with staff providing glucose testing services to patients as a business (regulated).  Residents are encouraged to refer to the 'Sharps Disposal for Michigan Resident' Resource for a listing of HHW programs and other volunteer programs in their area that accept and properly dispose of sharps.  Other options can be found in the pamphlet 'The Point is . . . Needles Hurt!'" 

It is not recommended that these monitors be tampered with in order to remove the lancet and recycle the plastic portion, unless the unit can expel the lancet for disposal in a sharps container.  The plastic should be soaked in a 10:1 water/bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution to remove any possible pathogens prior to recycling, if that is the case.

For commercial businesses, by virtue of the fact that they contain a sharp lancet that can pierce the skin, even if enclosed in a plastic housing and unused, would be considered a regulated sharp, if generated from a business and would have to be treated in accordance with the Medical Waste Regulatory Act, Part 138 of the Public Health Code."

Michigan Department of
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

To dispose of non-working microwave ovens, please contact:

Appliance Jack's
Adrian, MI 49221
Phone: 517-263-7439

Or check out the Michigan Recycling Directory

Red Collection Boxes are available for prescription drug disposal during regular business hours at the following locations:

Adrian Police Department
155 East Maumee Street
Adrian, MI

Hudson Police Department
205 Railroad Street
Hudson, MI

Lenawee County Sheriff's Department
405 North Winter Street
Adrian, MI

Raisin Township Safety Department
5225 Occidental Highway
Adrian, MI

Tecumseh Police Department
309 East Chicago Boulevard
Tecumseh, MI

Prescription drug pills and capsules only; no liquid medications, sharps, or bio-hazard materials.

If you have something containing radioactive material, please contact the EGLE Radioactive Materials Unit at RadioactiveMaterial@Michigan.gov so that they can help ensure that it is disposed of safely. 

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy 

Cleaning products do not typically contain ingredients that would harm the environment in the quantities that are disposed of by households.The vast majority of cleaning products are water soluble and are formulated for safe disposal in either municipal or home wastewater treatment systems. Household hazardous waste programs are intended to handle products that may cause a problem if disposed of by common methods, such as down the drain or in the trash. 

If you cannot use all of your cleaning supplies up, or give them away.

The key to smart use and disposal of any cleaning product is to read the label and follow the directions. If there are no special disposal instructions on the label, then thinking about how you use the product will help you make the right decision.

For example, water soluble products (those mixed with water for cleaning), such as laundry and dishwashing detergents; multi-surface cleaners; bleaches; disinfectant cleaners; and liquid metal cleaners/polishes, drain openers and toilet bowl cleaners, can be flushed down the drain with running water. Powders should be disposed of in small quantities at a time so they don't form lumps in the drain. Solid cleaning products, such as bar soaps, toilet bowl cleaners and soap scouring pads, can be safely disposed of in the trash. So can aerosol cans with product left in them. Remember, just as you shouldn't mix cleaning products together when using them, you shouldn't mix unused products during disposal.

For disposal recommendations on other products, such as oven cleaners, crystal drain openers and furniture polishes, call the manufacturer's toll-free number or check with your local waste disposal facility.

cleaninginstitute.org 

With the lid removed, the clean plastic container can then be recycled (if it marked as such).

Household Hazardous Waste are products found around the home that require special handling, such as

• solvent-based paints
• used motor oil
• certain pesticides
• unknown liquids 

A community collection event has been held in the spring and we hope to have future events. 

Please check the events page  

The Lenawee County Solid Wast Department does not collect used motor oil; but you may want to contact: 

• Archbold Equipment  
• Young's Auto Parts  
• Tractor Supply Co.
• Auto Zone 
• Advace AutoParts
• Walmart Tire & Lube
• Future Environment Inc, (+500 gallons) 866-579-6900