MMWA Announces Expanded Household Special Waste Drop-Off Schedule

New Few Schedule Necessitated for Television & Cathode Ray Tube Computer Monitors

Posted In: Politics, National, Local, Culture, ,   By: Robert E Martin

02nd June, 2016     0

Area residents will have more opportunities than ever this summer to safely dispose of their troublesome household wastes, including paint, household chemicals and electronics. Mid Michigan Waste Authority’s problem waste program has expanded to include 5-6 drop-off days per month.  

The program, which is offered to residents of Saginaw County, Bethany Twp, Village of Breckenridge and Wheeler Twp, has also been retooled to reflect the county’s problem waste disposal needs.         

“When we reviewed the data from our 2015 household special waste events, the first thing we noticed was that paint made up nearly two-thirds of the materials collected,” Katharine Tessin, MMWA Administrative Director, said. “We want to be responsive to the county’s needs, so this year we are offering three days per month devoted solely to paint collection.”
           

Electronics and hazardous waste will also get their own days, to make the drop-off experience quicker and easier for residents. 
           

All events will be held from 9 am to 1 pm at MMWA’s Community Resource Recovery Center, 2063 S Miller Rd, Saginaw, located at the SE corner of Miller and Ederer Roads in James Twp.

There is no charge for paint and household chemical disposal.

Most electronics can be turned in for free, but there is a charge for televisions and CRT (cathode ray tube) computer monitors, due to the cost of processing and recycling these items.

The fee is $10 for televisions that are under 48”, $20 for televisions 48” and larger, and $10 for CRT computer monitors. Older computer monitors are frequently CRT monitors; they are deeper in width and have wide viewing angles.     

"The tube televisions and monitors are costly to process due to changes in the electronics recycling market. Unfortunately, the amount of funding manufacturers are required by law to provide has not been enough to cover those costs,” Tessin said.

“MMWA is subsidizing the actual cost to recycle these items, because we know this is a change for residents who used to turn them in for free.”

“MMWA’s decision to charge residents to recycle these items was not an easy one,” adds MMWA’s Carol Somers.  “Due to the current state of electronics recycling, this has become the norm for e-waste recycling programs across the country. While electronics are not banned from landfills in Michigan, they do pose an environmental hazard when thrown in the trash. We hope that by paying half of the actual recycling cost, residents will be encouraged to dispose of their electronics in an environmentally responsible manner.”

(For example, the actual cost to recycle a 48” television is $40, but MMWA is covering half of that fee. The cost to the resident is $20.)

Here are some links to a few pieces that will give you an idea of the current state of e-waste recycling:



https://mibiz.com/item/21978-lack-of-subsidies-pushes-recyclers-to-rethink%20-%E2%80%93-or-charge-for-%E2%80%93-electronics-recycling

http://waste360.com/e-waste/why-best-buy-s-monitor-recycling-fee-could-be-death-knell-free-e-waste-programs

The 2016 MMWA household special waste schedule is as follows:

 

2016 MMWA Household Special Waste (HSW) Drop-off Schedule

All drop-off days held 9 am to 1 pm

Category

Includes

Dates

Paint

oil based paint

stain/varnish

June 8, June 15 
and then first three Wednesdays:

July 6, July 13, July 20

Aug 3, Aug 10, Aug 17
Sept 7, Sept 14, Sept 21

acrylic paint

latex paint

spray paint

caulk

 

Electronics

computers

mice

hard drives

tablets

First two Tuesdays:
June 7, June 14

July 5, July 12

Aug 2, Aug 9

Sept 6, Sept 13

laptops

keyboards

misc parts

cords

phones

scanners

NEW: $10 fee for

CRT monitors & TVs under 48” and $20 fee for TVs 48” or larger

fax machines

cables

 

Household hazardous waste

aerosols

fluorescent bulbs

Fourth Tuesday:
June 28
July 26

Aug 23

Sept 27

motor oil

smoke detectors

antifreeze

lead acid batteries

gasoline

mercury

wiper fluid

acids

glues and adhesives

misc cleaners

lawn & garden chemicals

pool & hobby chemicals

Over the counter and prescription medications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

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