Old TVs, computers, refrigerators, tires and other household waste to be collected Saturday
Washtenaw County residents can drop off their unwanted appliances, furniture, household hazardous wastes and more Saturday at the county's semi-annual Clean-Up Day.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson Football Stadium at 799 N. Hewitt Road in Ypsilanti, old materials from around the house can be dropped off for safe and sustainable disposal.
Andrew Jongkind drags a computer and a television set across the Pioneer High School parking lot by their power cords before stacking them up on a pallet with other used computers during an April 2010 e-waste recycling event.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Acceptable materials include:
- Recyclable materials: Plastics, glass, tin, cardboard, paper
- Scrap metal
- Freon appliances: Air conditioners, refrigerators and more
- Household hazardous wastes: Oil-based paints, cleaning supplies, motor oil, mercury, batteries, car batteries, pesticides, fertilizers and more
- Furniture
- Tires
- Electronic equipment: Computers, televisions, toasters and more
- Sharps: Diabetic needles, etc.
- Car batteries and lead batteries
The event is free and intended for Washtenaw County residents only, as it is funded by local entities: Washtenaw County Solid Waste Program, EMU, Superior Township and, for the first time, the city of Ann Arbor.
Donations of $10 per carload are suggested to decrease the cost of disposal for the Washtenaw County Solid Waste Program.
There are limits on the number of items accepted. Residents can bring one television, one Freon-containing appliance and one computer per car load, but an additional $10 donation is suggested for each additional item.
People can also drop off up to four car tires for free before a donation of $5 per additional tire is suggested.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
whatsupwithMI
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 1:32 a.m.
The one-computer-per-car due to cost is an interesting stance. Recycling electronics is these days a for-profit enterprise. Granted, the stuff gets shipped overseas to have the valuable metals reclaimed, but that's cheaper than trying to find the nonexistent in the USA that handles this material. BTW, the Recycle Station in Ypsilanti takes all types of electronic items now, no limit, no fee. Also taken are all recyclable plastics, paper, glass, metal cans, and even styrofoam. This station is located at Frog Island Park, and is open from 9am - 3pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
whatsupwithMI
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 1:23 a.m.
It certainly would be useful (and useful is a codeword for INCREASE READERSHIP) if the lesson the paper didn't learn could be learned by the blog: alert us about events: musicals, community gatherings, important local meetings--- BEFORE they occur rather than on the day, or even better yet, only on the day after.
Sandra Samons
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
Nothing like letting people know in a timely manner. Most people need a little time to prepare. I didn't even get around to checking my email from Friday morning until Saturday afternoon.....too late!
TruthBeTold
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
Thanks for posting the news about a Saturday event in Saturdays posting.
David Rhoads
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
Saline's Environmental Commission is sponsoring an electronic waste recycloing event on Nov 10 from 9 to 2, at Houghton School, which is at the corner of Mills and W Bennett streets in Saline. Anyone can bring as many items as they want with no required fee. The payment from the recycling company is given to The Fifth Corner, Saline's teen center. You do not need to be a resident of Saline or the County, if you can get it to the site, we will take it. Electronics including TVs of any size and small household appliances, but no hazardous waste. See the complete list of acceptable items at http://fifthcorner.org
djacks24
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.
"There are limits on the number of items accepted. Residents can bring one television, one Freon-containing appliance and one computer per car load, but an additional $10 donation is suggested for each additional item." this doesn't make sense? What if I have three CRT computer monitors and one desktop tower? Does this mean each CRT monitor is considered a separate computer system and they'll be expecting a $30 donation? If that's the case I'll wait until next year for the Apple sponsored UM recycle event or hello dumpster.
djacks24
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 3:42 a.m.
"Please don't throw a CRT monitor, which contains lead, in the dumpster. You bought it, cleaning it up properly is your responsibility." Don't worry, I'd discharge the CRT first. That's my only "responsibility" is to prevent it from exploding.
A2comments
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
Best Buy.
Angry Moderate
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
Please don't throw a CRT monitor, which contains lead, in the dumpster. You bought it, cleaning it up properly is your responsibility.
A2comments
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
Best Buy takes many electronic items FREE. What We Take Seven items per household per day. Nearly everything electronic, including tube TVs and monitors up to 32", flat-panel TVs and monitors up to 60", peripherals, DVD players, home and car audio, cell phones, MP3 players, and cables. Desktop or laptop computers. Small electrics, fans and vacuums. What We Don't Take Console TVs of any size, or tube TVs and monitors larger than 32". Use our haul-away or pickup programs for these items. Electronics containing refrigerants, such as mini refrigerators or air conditioners. Please contact your local waste disposal department. Appliances. Use our haul-away or pickup programs for refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers, ranges and microwaves. Disassembled TVs and Monitors
JRW
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
Sounds like BB only takes items that are resellable. Real recyclables aren't taken......BB is making money off of this.
A2comments
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
I pasted it from their site jacks24.
djacks24
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
Do you represent Best Buy or do you mean items you take to BB?
RedSchwinn
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.
Thanks for the tip.
RedSchwinn
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
"There are limits on the number of items accepted. Residents can bring one television, one Freon-containing appliance and one computer per car load, but an additional $10 donation is suggested for each additional item." The language on the flyer I found, following the Clean Up Day link, suggests that only one of the big items would be accepted without the additional $10 donation: "Residents may bring 1 of the following items for free: television, washer, dryer, Freon containing appliance or computer. Residents will be asked to donate $10 for each additional item." A subtle but important difference in language, there.
DonBee
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:58 p.m.
It is a county run and supported program. It may physically be in Ypsi this time but the last was in Ann Arbor. It moves around the county, so that people can have reasonable access
Ron Granger
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
There will always be people trying to blame the city of ann arbor for an event that is in YPSILANTI.
Barzoom
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
There's no such thing as free when the city of Ann Arbor is involved.
runnergirl
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
It's not the City of Ann Arbor, it's Washtenaw County that's coordinating this event. And it's definitely worth it, if you had to get rid of the items yourself!
Amy Biolchini
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.
I know I've been saving a small stockpile of stuff to donate to a recycling event like this. How many old TVs, computers, etc. do you have sitting around your house?
RedSchwinn
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
1 old TV, 1 old computer, and a couple of shoeboxes filled with assorted small electronics, like fried MP3 players, cheap digital cameras and exhausted electric toothbrushes.
krogerboy
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.
"Andrew Jongkind drags a computer and a television set across the Pioneer High School parking lot by their power cords before stacking them up on a pallet with other used computers during an April 2010 e-waste recycling event." This caption is inaccurate, these are both CRT Computer Monitors, and he is dragging them by their VGA cords, not power cords, to be placed on a pallet of CRT Computer Monitors (not computers) which he is standing next to in the picture.
Soulful Adrenaline
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
LOL - Worst caption usage ever!
grye
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
What about CFL and full length fluorescent light bulbs? Will they accept them?
Amy Biolchini
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
I asked Dan Moody, solid waste coordinator for Washtenaw County, that question and he said that both compact fluorescent light bulbs and fluorescent lights 4' and 8' in length will be accepted Saturday.
Sonya
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 4:40 p.m.
From the "and more" link it looks like fluorescent tubes/bulbs are accepted. I was wonering the same thing.
MRunner73
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
It is worth the 10 bucks to me. Have several items to dispose of. Great to have the serice.
Gary Haller
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
I got excited when i first started reading about the FREE drop off for house hold items then as i read on ..its not really free.. oh yeah I forgot theres no such thing as free
Veracity
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Gary Haller, For someone like myself who has many categories of items to get rid of I can not find another place that will take everything and for only $10. It is worth it for me.
RedSchwinn
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.
Although not truly, completely free, since it does use extra keystrokes and electricity, punctuation is so cheap as to be virtually free. Try it sometime. Commas, apostrophes, three-dot ellipses... there's a lot of good stuff to be had for next to nothing.