Household Hazardous Waste
|
Upcoming Event
October 4, 2008
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
Most households contain materials that can be hazardous and
must be disposed of carefully. Improper disposal can be
dangerous to people and the environment. For years, it was
common for homeowners to throw chemicals into the trash, onto
the ground or down the drain. While it seemed the amount from
an individual household was small, the cumulative effect was
significant. A typical community the size of Bloomfield
Township discards two tons of toilet bowl cleaner, seven tons
of liquid household cleaner and two tons of motor oil each
month. Unfortunately, landfills, storm drains and sewage
treatment plants are not designed to treat chemical wastes.
Without special treatment, the chemicals may stay in the
environment and move into recreational and drinking water
supplies.
Household Hazardous
Waste Drop-Off Day
Bloomfield Township sponsors two Household Hazardous Waste
Drop-Off Days each year, typically the first Saturday in May
and the first Saturday in October. The drop-off site is the
north parking lot of the Bloomfield Township administrative
building, located on Exeter Rd, west off Telegraph, south of
Long Lake Rd. (look for signs on drop-off day). This service
is for residents only; proof of residency is required.
Upcoming Drop-Off Day
Bloomfield Township sponsors a fall and spring Household
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day - each year. The fall event is
scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4, between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM at
the north parking lot of the Bloomfield Township
administrative building on Exeter Road, west of Telegraph Road
and south of Long Lake Road. A change to traffic flow this
year requires participants to enter the drop off site from
Andover Road, either by entering from Long Lake Road or from
Telegraph Road. just past the 48th District Court. There will
be posted signs on the day of the event.
The Township will not accept hazardous materials prior to
or after the event.
To drop off hazardous materials, participants must show
proof of residency. Acceptable documentation includes a
driver’s license, water bill or voter registration card.
Again this year, the Township is offering a thermometer
exchange. Residents can dispose of old, mercury thermometers
safely and exchange them for mercury-free digital models.
The Fall 2008 event will not include electronics.
Please look for upcoming information regarding an Electronic
Waste Drop Off event in the spring of 2009 and be sure to
check this website for more information.
Most households contain materials that can be hazardous and
must be disposed of carefully. Improper disposal can be
dangerous to people and the environment. For years, it was
common for homeowners to throw chemicals into the trash, onto
the ground or down the drain. While it seemed the amount from
an individual household was small, the cumulative effect was
significant. A typical community the size of Bloomfield
Township discards two tons of toilet bowl cleaner, seven tons
of liquid household cleaner and two tons of motor oil each
month. Unfortunately, landfills, storm drains and sewage
treatment plants are not designed to treat chemical wastes.
Without special treatment, the chemicals may stay in the
environment and move into recreational and drinking water
supplies.
Common household hazardous waste includes things like:
aerosol cans, ammonia-based cleaners, drain cleaners and
poisons like insect sprays.
Common Household Hazardous Wastes
Kitchen
- Aerosol cans
- Aluminum cleaners
- Ammonia based cleaners
- Drain cleaners
- Furniture polish
- Oven cleaners
- Insect sprays

Bathroom
- Alcohol based lotions
- Disinfectants
- Hair relaxers
- Medicine (expired)
- Nail polish
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Tub & tile cleaners
- Mercury thermometers
Outdoor Shed
- Fungicide
- Herbicide
- Insecticide
- Rat poison
- Weed killer
- Fertilizer
Garage
- Automatic transmission fluid
- Battery acid
- Brake fluid
- Diesel fuel
- Motor oil
- Fuel oil
- Antifreeze
- Gasoline
- Gas/Oil mixtures
Basement Workshop
- Paint
- Paint stripper
- Turpentine
- Varnish
- Wood preservative
- Rust remover
- Glue
Miscellaneous
- Artists' paints
- Drycleaning solvents
- Mercury batteries
- Lighter fluid
- Photographic chemicals
- Moth balls
- Shoe polish
Alternatives for Household Cleaning Solutions
Many common household tasks can be performed effectively
with harmless substances rather than the more-often used
hazardous chemicals. Consider the following tips:
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
Furniture
- Polish
Equal parts mineral oil and lemon oil or equal parts mineral
oil and Murphy's Oil Soap.
- Wood
2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1
quart warm water. Spray, then dry with soft cloth
- Upholstered
6 tablespoons soap flakes, 1 pint boiling water, 2
tablespoons borax
- Leather
Murphy's Oil Soap
Floors
- Cleaner
¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
in 1 gallon warm water
- Painted Wood
1 tablespoon washing soda in 1 gallon warm water
- Vinyl, Natural Wood
Murphy's Oil Soap
Wax Remover
- 3 tablespoons washing soda in 1 quart warm water
Drain Cleaner
- Plunger or plumber's snake or
¼ cup baking soda and 2 ounces vinegar; cover drain tightly
and flush with hot water, or
flush weekly with boiling water, or
½ cup washing soda and boiling water
All Purpose Cleaner
- Baking soda and water for ovens, cutting boards, coffee
stains, toilets, basin, tub and tile
- Water mixed with salt or borax for formica
- Baking soda and vinegar for crusted food in pans
Oven Cleaner
- Put salt on spills while warm
- Loosen soil with ¼ cut ammonia left overnight
Deodorizer
- Baking soda or vinegar in open dish
- Air out room
- Fresh flowers or herbs
- Mix 2 cups corn meal and 1 cup borax and sprinkle on
carpet, leave 15 minutes and vacuum
Disinfectant
- Borax and water spray solution, then keep area aired out
and dry
- 1 tablespoon bleach in 1 gallon of warm water (wipe on a
clean surface and let air dry)
Stain Removal
- For rust or hard water deposits - vinegar or lemon juice
- For copper pots - lemon halves dipped in salt (or rub
with vinegar)
- For coffee cups - baking soda
- Corn meal and water mixed into paste for general use
Personal Care Products
- Avoid aerosols; use pump sprays
Silver Polish
- Soak in 1 quart water, 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1
tablespoon salt and a small piece of aluminum foil
GARAGE / BASEMENT
Paint, Paint Remover
- Use water based latex paints. Use sandpaper and sander
as paint remover
Window cleaner (glass cleaner)
- ½ cup white vinegar in 1 gallon water, rub dry with
newspaper
Pesticides **
- Boric acid for cockroaches, traps for rats and mice
Wood preservatives
Purchase pre-treated wood
LAUNDRY
Detergent
- Soap, borax or washing soda or use less detergent
Softener
- ¼ cup vinegar in wash cycle
Dry cleaner fluid/spot remover
- Soap, cornstarch or vinegar
Starch
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch to 1 pint water
Bleach
- Use powdered rather than liquid bleach
OTHER
- Wipe up spills with water or club soda
** Pesticides will not be effective if the pests' shelter,
food and water are not removed. Please call either the
Southeastern Department of Environmental Quality offices at
734.953.8905 or the Department of Environmental Quality
Assistance Center at 800.662.9278 regarding pesticides.
Home |
Government |
Services |
Community |
Current Events |
Resources
Contact Us |
E-mail List |
Forms
Still can't find what you're looking for?
Use our comprehensive Search or
Site Map pages!
Charter Township of Bloomfield
4200 Telegraph Road
P.O. Box 489
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-0489
248.433.7700
This site is best viewed in Internet Explorer
5.5 or higher and Netscape 6.0 or higher.
Having trouble accessing our site forms?
Your browser may not have the Acrobat Reader plug-in
that is required.
Click here to download a free copy of this software.
Site Design/Development
by

Proudly serving our community online since
1999.
Named #1 Township Website in Michigan by Cyber-state.org
Site Use
Policy
All information © 2008 Bloomfield
Township, Michigan
|