(Marquette, Michigan) - In a time when more Americans are becoming environmentally savvy, some free projects that protect the planet are not being used by the public.
Officials say that not only puts the earth at risk, but it is a waste of your tax dollars because many environmental projects are funded by federal, state and local governments.
For example, a free program that keeps common everyday household poisons and other hazardous materials out of a northern Michigan landfill will end if residents don't start taking advantage of the environmental project vital to protecting groundwater and soil.
For over 15 years, the Marquette County Landfill has offered no-charge collection sites during the summer for residents to bring household hazardous waste (HHW) but organizers say the program may end due to lack of use.
The landfill director said it's important to remove the hazardous waste from the environment for health and safety reasons.
If the program isn't utilized the director will initiate a reduction in services.
"Once the toxins, such as mercury are in the environment we can't get them out," said Rick Aho, director of the Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority (MCSWMA).
"The (HHW) program provides an opportunity for everyone in Marquette County to protect the lake, ground water, and the land," Aho said.
There are only a few other HHW facilities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some charge residents a fee.
The Marquette County collection is free with no hidden costs, Aho said.
If Marquette County residents bring proper items "on the list and follow HHW safe handling rules - you will getting the service for free," Aho said.
Limited state grants have funded the mercury and pesticide collections, however the 2006 mercury payment was not given to the landfill because the project ran out of money, Aho said.
In 2006, the project collected 13,685 pounds of HHW including 280 car batteries, nearly 6,500 gallons of motor oil, 770 gallons of anti-freeze, 816 pounds of oil filters and 47 pounds of liquid mercury.
Almost twice as much HHW (22,226 pounds) was collected in 2005 because of a collection by the Earth keeper Initiative, an environmental group that hold annual U.P.-wide Earth Day clean sweeps.
The sites collect a wide ranged of items including household poisons like lead/mercury based paints, pesticides, herbicides (weed killer), drain cleaner, vehicle batteries, motor oil and filters, solvents, certain non-regulated medical waste (like insulin syringes).
Aho recommends people check with the Authority website (MCSWMA.com)or the landfill 906-249-4109 before bringing items, to make sure the substance is accepted and transported safely.
Items not accepted include unidentified or unlabeled substances, water-based (latex) paint, standard alkaline batteries. The HHW sites do not accept standard alkaline batteries but will take rechargeable and button batteries placed by type in a zip-locked plastic bag.
Over 500 rechargeable (NiCad) batteries were collected in 2005-2006. All substances must be clearly labeled or in its original container so they can be proper identified and prepared for dispoal.
Products should never be mixed together. Motor oil, antifreeze, transmission and brake fluid will be accepted in a clean plastic jug (milk jug) with screw top that is sealed and labeled.
Valuable containers utilized for oil transportation can be emptied and returned to the customer, Aho said.
With the improve storage capacity added over the winter, the five gallon limit on waste oil accepted per visit has been eliminated, Aho said.
Waste oil collected at the sites is used to heat landfill facilities. Oil filters should be placed in a sealed plastic bag.
Old gasoline will be accepted in a properly marked container that will not be returned.
"Gas should not be transported in plastic gallon jugs - but if they do bring it in one, we will take it and then put the jug into a large container that is approved to hold gas," Aho said.
If residents want to keep their expensive gasoline cans, they should also bring a gallon jug or other container to transfer the liquid, Aho said.
Non-regulated home medical waste is accepted in proper containers including insulin syringes, IV needles and lancets.
The sharp objects should be sealed in a clear, leak-proof and puncture-resistant container such as plastic milk jugs and bleach, detergent, and two-liter soda bottles. The container should be labeled with a description of the items.
Aho said Marquette Wallpaper & Paint (228-8376) will accept useable latex paint in its original can (not rusty, frozen or hardened).
Unuseable latex paint should be dried using cat litter, crumpled newspaper or sawdust and placed in regular garbage. Business hazardous waste is accepted by appointment only.
There is no charge for some business waste like pesticides, herbicides, and elemental mercury, Aho said.
HHW materials generally include warning labels with words like caustic, dangerous, flammable and poison.
As a rule, Aho recommends that people use up the HHW.
Marquette County HHW sites are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays (May - October).
The HHW collection sites rotate between three sites in the city of Marquette, west Ishpeming, Marquette County Landfill, on Saturdays.
West End Transfer station (north side of U.S. 41 in West Ishpeming, just west of DNR field station): August 11, Sept. 15, Oct. 13.
Marquette Service Center, 850 W. Baraga Ave: August 18, Sept. 22, Oct. 20.
Marquette County Landfill main HHW building (off County Road 480 between M-35 and M-553): August 25, Sept. 29, Oct. 27.
The HHW sites do not accept certain hazardous materials including explosives, asbestos and radioactive items like smoke detectors that should be shipped back to the manufacturer using a private shipping service not the regular mail.
Most smoke alarms use one or both of two common sensing systems for detecting a fire: ionization and photoelectric.
The ionized system has a small amount of radioactive material.
For more details including a complete list of what is accepted visit the authority's website:
www.mcswma.comFor more information call MCSWMA Director Rick Aho at 906-249-4108.
