Ionia County Resource Recovery Guide
This guide/website is still in development and new infromation will be added regularly. If you have questions about a specific item and the information is not available here, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
N
Needles, Sharps
Disposal:
Sede the MDNRE's brochure, The Point is... Needles Hurt! or our Medications and Needles page for more information.
O
P
Propane Tanks (20 lbs)
Reduce:
Grill over an open fire.
Reuse:
Replace valve so that the tank can be refilled. Call the companies listed below for costs.
Recycle:
The gas can be reclaimed and the metal can be recycled. Contact the following companies listed below for information on recycling.
| Business |
Phone Number |
Recycling Cost |
Address |
Website |
| Alto LP Gas, Inc. |
1-800-998-6242
1-877-265-2586
1-800-551-9755
|
FREE |
6040 Alden Nash, Alto
2538 Lansing Road, Charlotte
8086 N. Sheridan Rd., Edmore |
www.altogas.com |
| AmeriGas |
1-866-767-1100 |
FREE |
9883 W Belding Rd, Belding |
www.amerigas.com |
| Peterson Oil & Propane |
1-800-354-3309 |
FREE |
6360 Greenville Rd. Greenville |
|
| Rural Gas |
616-527-2050 |
FREE |
6705 S. Greenville Road, Greenville |
www.ruralgas.com |
Disposal:
Propane tanks should not be disposed of in the trash, as they are a hazard if not completely emptied and rendered pressure free.
Propane Tanks (1-2 lbs)
Reduce:
Grill over an open fire.
Reuse:
Not an option.
Disposal:
See our Household Hazardous Waste page for more information.
Packing Materials
Paint
Reuse:
Check with your local Habitat for Humanity charity to see if they might take your usable paint.
Recycle:
To recycle paint containers, make sure they are empty and dry. A thin layer od dried paint on the bottom and sides of the can is usually acceptable. In order to recycle paint can lids, just remove them from the container. Take to a scrap yard.
Disposal:
See our Household Hazardous Waste page for more information.
Paper/Cardboard/Newspapers
Reuse:
Use old newspapers to clean windows. Simply crumple a couple sheets of newspapers, spray glass with window cleaner and rub the glass with sheets of newspaper. The glass will sparkle. Donate newspapers to local schools or day care centers. Schools are always doing craft projects like paper mache. Save newspapers to use as packing material for moving or mailing.
Recycle:
See our list of nearby recycling locations.
Personal Care Items
Plastic Grocery Bags
Pool Chemicals
Repair:
Switch to salt systems rather than chlorine systems. Salt water pools evaporate slower than chlorine pools. A salt water system also reduces the amount of chemicals you need to use in swimming pool maintenance. As the salt breaks down, it turns to chlorine, so you don't eliminate all the issues. Look for natural, enzyme cleaners. Manufacturers like Natural Chemistry sell biodegradable, non-toxic enzyme cleaners. Specially formulated enzymes provide swimming pool maintenance through the winter and reduce the build-up of scum, which reduces the need to filter the pool. Some cleaners do use chemicals, but they are not dangerous chemicals.
Disposal:
See our Household Hazardous Waste page for more information. Call your local pool stores. They may be able to sell the chemicals to customers for a discounted price. If not, they might have a way to dispose of the chemicals for you. Check with your local community pools. They can always use extra chemicals, and would appreciate the donation.
Q
R
RV Dump Stations
S
Septic System Waste
Shingles
Smoke Detectors
Snow Blowers/Snow Mobiles
Styrofoam
Reuse:
Polystyrene Block (often pre formed to protect electronics or in rectangular blocks for other packaging uses): Contact your local waste management agency for locations that accept for recycling. The industry EPS Packaging website is a joke because their list of Drop Off Locations gives no actual addresses, just phone numbers. If you cannot find a local dropoff, consider using it as insulation in your attic or elsewhere. Some hardware stores will actually sell you polystyrene insulation that looks like oversized egg cartons but why pay?
Recycle:
Rcycling Styrofoam, instead of throwing it straight into the waste receptacle, feels great. By being more mindful, you are helping preserve the environment. Additionally, there are some pretty neat crafts and art projects for children and the adults, as well as home and holiday decorations that you can make out of Styrofoam, which will probably make your recycling experience even more enjoyable.
Sewing Machines
T
Tires
Reduce
Drive less: walk, ride a bike, carpool, etc.
Reuse:
Make a tire swing, use a tire to outline a sandbox, cut tires in half lengthwise and use as weights to keep tarps down (bunker silos), etc.
Recycle:
Take old tires to Pitsch Sanitary Landfill 616-794-3050 for recycling.
Cost:off the rim $2.50 (domestic)
on the rim $5 (domestic)
large truck $10
tractor $15
Disposal:
Tires are banned from landfills in the state of Michigan.
Tools
Toys & Games (Trampolines)
Typewriter & Supplies
U
V
Vacuums
Video Tapes
Recycle:
Freecycle those videos. Teachers, preachers and librarians all love Freecycle because they work on a tight budget and often need materials for their jobs that they pay for out-of-pocket. Lots of people could easily make use of your VHS tapes if you just put them out there. And unlike eBay, this is free to use so if it doesn't work, you haven't risked a thing. Donate your VHS tapes to a local library. Call ahead and ask if they're interested in your titles. If they're not interested, the Salvation Army always accepts donations of any kind.
Repair:
Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly. Lay the video tape down on a table or counter with the transparent windows facing down. Begin to unscrew the screws which hold the case together. If your tape has a rivet at the center, you will need to drill it out using a drill. Use the drill's slow speed or the heat may melt your tape. For best results, drill the rivet down the center so that it breaks in half. Remove the screws but do not open the case yet. Hold the tape case shut with your hands and turn it over so that the transparent windows are facing upward. Gently pull the top half of the case upward. Cut the sticker on the back of the tape in half with a craft blade if necessary, but do not remove the flip-up cover on the front face. Place the front face of the case down on the counter. Make a careful note of where everything is located inside your video tape. Look at a diagram or at another tape if necessary.Trim any areas of the tape which have a jagged edge. Note that the tape has a slightly shinier side, and a slightly more matte side. Make sure that you match these and align them properly. Cut a piece of scotch tape so that it is exactly the width of the video tape, and tape your trimmed pieces together.Tape the end of the tape back on the reel if it has become detached. Place the reel back inside the video tape case.Thread the tape back through the pegs inside the video tape casing. Inside the video tape you will see a peg on the left, with a thin piece of film above it. Another peg, covered by a plastic or metal tube, will be directly above and to the left of that. On the right you will see two pegs close together, also covered by plastic or metal tubes. Begin threading the tape on the left side of the case. The tape should be threaded on the right of the lower peg on the left (First Peg), then run directly along the left of the small piece of film. Then it should be threaded along the left of the top left peg (Second Peg). Run the tape along until you reach the left-most of the two pegs on the right. Place it over the peg on the left (Third Peg), then place the tape between it and the peg beside it (Fourth Peg). Place your fingers inside the two reels of video tape and turn them in opposite directions until the tape at the top of the cassette becomes taut.ake sure that all parts of the video tape are properly seated. Push up the flip-up cover of the front assembly and begin to slowly, carefully place the front cover back down on the back half. The case should snap together easily so that front and back are flush with each other. You may need to press the button on the side to get the flip-up cover to hook into the rest of the cassette. Turn the tape over and replace the screws.Place the cassette in a VCR. Fast forward the tape all the way to the end. Rewind it all the way to the beginning. View the tape to see if the repair was successful. If you experience any serious symptoms, immediately turn off the VCR and disconnect it from the power source.
Vinyl Siding
Recycle:
W
X
Y
Yard Waste & Composting
See our Backyard Composting page for more information.
Z