Tuscola County Recycling

Residents are encouraged to bring their recyclables into the building and to help sort their items into the appropriate bins.
Everything brought to Tuscola County Recycling is sorted out by hand and every single item has its own place and process.
Assistance will be available for those in need.

New Information About…..
Where, When and How to Recycle at Tuscola County Recycling

Keep It Clean and Keep It Separate
Everything brought into the facility is sorted by hand. Please be aware of any health and safety issues for our employees! Chances are if you don’t see an item listed, we cannot recycle it.

Newspaper, Junk Mail, Office Paper, Boxboard, Telephone & Textbooks
This also includes copy paper, lined paper, typing paper, computer paper, file folders, inserts, envelopes, Keep all papers clean and dry. You do not need to remove any staples, paper clips or windows. Any other metal or non paper items should be removed. Paper products can be brought in any type of container. Please keep all magazines separate. NO wax-coated containers, paper plates, cups, napkins or paper towels. NO refrigerated food containers such as milk, juice, oleo, ice cream or frozen food containers.

Magazines
Magazines should be kept separate from other paper products. Magazines need to be glossy all the way through.

Corrugated Cardboard/Boxboard
Includes all cardboard that is constructed with corrugated grooves. NO wax-coated boxes. Boxboard includes cereal, tissue, gift boxes, etc.

Glass
We accept only clear glass in bottle or jar form. NO colored glass, window glass, auto glass, perfume bottles, pyrex glass, candle jars or drinking glasses. Wash bottles & jars and remove caps and lids.

Steel
Tin cans, jar container lids and scrap metals are accepted. Wash out all tin cans and keep separate from aluminum.

Aluminum
Tin foil, foil pans, pie plates, non deposit aluminum cans, cat food cans are accepted. Rinse and keep separate from steel cans.

Plastics
We accept #1 and #2 in bottle form only. Rinse out all containers and leave all caps & lids off. Examples of what is acceptable:
#1 clear water, soda and juice bottles
#2 milk jugs, colored laundry soap bottles, shampoo, fabric softener and bleach bottles.
Clean, dry shopping bags are also accepted. NO black trash bags. Please keep plastic shopping bags separate from all other plastics.

Polystyrene Foam
Includes clean meat trays, foam cups, clam shells, foam plates and bowls. Keep separate from packing peanuts. Please bundle large amounts in clear plastic bags for easy handling.

Tires

County Residents

Car tire $1.50 Car tire with rim $3.00
Semi truck or trailer tire $7.50
Semi/trailer with rim $15.00
Tractor tire $20.00
Tractor tire with rim $40.00
Limit 7 tires per visit
No tire accepted on any type of axle.
Tires must be clean inside and out.
Cash or check only.

Non-County Residents

Car tire $3.00
Car tire with rim $6.00
Semi truck or trailer tire $15.00
Semi truck or trailer tire with rim $30.00
Tractor tire $40.00
Tractor tire with rim $80.00
Limit 7 tires per visit
No tire accepted on any type of axle.
Tires must be clean inside and out.
Cash or check only!

Antifreeze

Please place Antifreeze In easily emptied containers.
Call ahead for any changes in drop off hours.
Containers remain with Consumers once emptied
No container larger than 5 gallon accepted - Must be sealed.

Motor Oil

Terms of acceptance - Used MOTOR oil only, Please place oil in easily emptied containers. Cannot be mixed with water or any other fluids. Call ahead to learn of any changes in drop off hours.

Used oil drop off locations

Electronics

Goodwill Industries Stores accept computer equipment year round, free of charge from all area residents. More information can be found at Reconnect Partnership.
Tuscola County Recycling accepts electronic waste from Tuscola County residents year round at our facility. Proof of residency is required and NO out of County electronics can be accepted.
All of the following material is accepted year round, free of charge from Tuscola County residents:
Computer Towers, VCRs, DVD Players, Stereos, Printers, Fax Machines, Telephones, Scanners, Cellular Phones, Speakers, Keyboards, Computer Mouse, Rubber covered cords, Rechargeable Batteries & Auto Batteries, tv's and computers.
Best Buy stores accept just about anything electronic, including TVs, DVD players, computer monitors, cell phones and more. You can bring in up to two items a day, per household, and most things are absolutely free. However, there is a $10 charge for TVs 32" and under, CRTs, monitors and laptops — but they'll give you a $10 Best Buy gift card to offset that cost.

Household Battery Recycling

Rechargeable batteries may be mailed in through this program rbrc.org. Other household batteries may be recycled through the following programs;

Eco Lights Northwest
2200 6th Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 343-7443
http://www.ecolights.com
CFLs, fluorescent bulbs, items containing mercury, NiCad batteries, other batteries, rechargeable batteries, single-use batteries
This mail-in program accepts all lighting sources, fixtures bulbs and other mercury containing item. Please call for additional information.
Partners in Planet Protection
Palmerton, PA 18071(610) 955-7634
http://www.4pipp.com
CFLs, fluorescent bulbs, items containing mercury (dental waste), mercury thermostats, rechargeable batteries, single-use batteries
This program is available nationally and services business both large and small. Please visit the website to order a relevant kit and for shipping instructions.
Battery Mart
1 Battery Drive, Winchester, VA 22601
(800) 405-2121
http://www.batterymart.com
NiCad batteries, other batteries (NiMH, lead-acid), rechargeable batteries
This program does not pay for shipping costs. Please call for further details.
Wal- Mart Electronics Department
1121 E Caro Road
Caro, MI 4872
(989) 673-7900
Accepts all types of household batteries - please tape the ends.

CFL ( Compact Fluorecent Bulbs)

For information on disposal of CFL bulbs, see the links below.

http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_30068_30172---,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/CFL_Fact_Sheet_193840_7.pdf

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf

Locations that accept CFL's year round, free of charge:

Home Depot in Bay City

3860 State Street off of Wilder
(989) 671-9402
No broken bulbs - take them to the Customer Service desk for disposal

Menards in Bay City

2864 E. Wilder Road
(989) 686-1764
No broken bulbs - take them to the Electrical Department for disposal

Menards in Saginaw

5806 State Street across from Wal-Mart
(989) 790-2953
No broken bulbs - take them to the Electrical Department for disposal

Mail in recycling programs for CFL's and other mercury containing items:

Paints

One of the questions we answer the most is *How do I get rid of my water based paint?*

Latex paint is water based (any paint that has water cleanup is water based) and it is not considered hazardous by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). According to the MDEQ, residents can dry up their old latex paint and once it is dry and solid, it can go into your regular trash. You can speed up the drying process by adding cat litter, wood chips, sand or shredded paper to the cans of paint. Remember to store the open paint cans somewhere safe where pets and children will not have access to it.

How to properly dispose of Latex Paints - View Video

Oil based

Oil based paint and stains, cleaners, paint strippers, polishes and pool chemicals are all items that are accepted at the yearly Household Hazardous Waste collections. Tuscola County Recycling Center sponsors two collection dates each year. Both collection dates are open from 9:00am to Noon and an appointment is required to attend either event date. Please call ahead for an appointment and list of acceptable items.

Medical Waste

Used Needle Disposal
Unused Medication Disposal

Other Materials

Video/Audio Cassette - Floppy/Computer Disk recycling
Mail in company accepting video cassettes only.
Alternative Community Training
2200 Burlington
Columbia, MO 65202

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