Dry cell alkaline batteries are commonly used in portable equipment like flashlights and toys. 

Lead acid batteries are found in most vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel fuel.

Michigan law prohibits lead acid batteries from being disposed in a landfill (factsheet: landfill prohibited materials)

Michigan law also requires retailers and auto repair shops that sell batteries to provide recycling options for their customers. This makes it easy to recycle lead acid batteries as you can take them to the store where you purchase the replacement battery.

Lithium ion batteries are rechargeable and come in many different shapes and sizes. They are becoming more and more popular because they are smaller, more powerful, and last longer than dry cell alkaline batteries. Lithium ion batteries are found in all kinds of products like electric vehicles, cell phones, laptops, tablets, cordless power tools, and other handheld rechargeable gadgets. Some are even button-sized and found in small electronic devices like vapes, hearing aids, and watches.

If damaged, lithium ion batteries experience thermal runaway. Thermal runaway is a chain reaction within a battery cell that can be very difficult to stop once it has started. Batteries experiencing thermal runaway burn quickly and violently, reaching temperatures as high as 900°F. This can easily cause surrounding materials to burn, whether it happens at your home, in the garbage truck, at the landfill, or a material recycling facility.

For everyone's safety, rechargeable lithium ion batteries should only be charged with the proper charger and recycled promptly to prevent damage and thermal runaway. 

E-cigs or vapes may have nicotine in them which is toxic and a lithium battery which may spark and cause a fire.

Where available, e-cigs and vapes should be taken to a collection so the toxic nicotine component can be incinerated.

In some cases, the lithium battery may be able to be recycled too, depending on the type of e-cig and vape.

If a local collection isn't immediately available, contact your local law enforcement to find out if they're collecting them during the next national Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Drug Take Back Day.

Electronics, such as computers, computer monitors, televisions, laptops, VCRs, cell phones, printers, computer mice, remote controls, telephones, video games, fax machines, and printers, often contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and fire retardants.

Aerosol cans are used to deliver hairspray, cooking sprays, degreasing materials, lubricating materials, and even medications.

Aerosol cans often contain materials that are ignitable, corrosive, and toxic. When compacted, aerosol cans can also present an explosion hazard.

Such as cosmetics, nail polish remover, perfume, cologne, and hairspray. These products often contain petrochemicals in them and can be ignitable (it could catch fire).

Acids and bases include products like muriatic acid, battery acid, trisodium phosphate and swimming pool chemicals. These chemicals are corrosive and can readily burn skin.

Certain cleaning products or cleansers often have a very high or very low pH and can burn the skin.

Pesticides including bug repellant and sprays, are designed to be toxic. They should be handled as specified in the product instructions and taken to a collection that will provide for them to be incinerated and destroyed.

Antifreeze is a mixture of water, coolant, and additives. It is used to protect engines and other equipment from overheating and corroding. It also protects engines from freezing in low temperatures. If you maintain your personal vehicles, boats, or home solar collectors, you may have waste antifreeze.

When ingested, antifreeze can harm the kidneys, nervous system, lungs, and heart. 

Compressed gas cylinders, like small and large propane canisters pose an explosion hazard and contain a flammable gas. See the lists/directories at the top of this page for collection options for compressed gas cylinders that cannot be exchanged for recycling at the time of purchase of a replacement cylinder.

If a local collection option is not available, contact a scrap metal recyclers or commercial gas cylinder or welding suppliers for help in identifying options.

Gasoline and other fuels are ignitable and toxic. So are most solvents. Breathing even small amounts of vapors can cause nose and throat irritation, breathing difficulties, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. 

Scrap tires pose a fire risk and a human health risk as mosquito breeding grounds.

If you can't find a local collection, contact a nearby registered scrap tire collection site for help.

Oil picks up small particles of metal and dirt as it lubricates a car engine which can make it toxic.

If a local collection isn’t immediately available, ask if your local auto parts store offers a collection option for customers. 

Medical waste includes items like unwanted needles and lancets (also called sharps).  Medical waste is infectious and can cause disease.  Medical waste, when collected, is sanitized prior to being recycled or disposed.  This helps protect waste and sanitary sewer workers, janitors, housekeepers, and children from accidentally getting poked and getting sick. 

If a local collection is not available, search the interactive Household Drug Take Back map. Locations with a yellow star on the map show sharps collection locations. To quickly learn how to use the map features, watch the video tutorial for the take back map.

Medications, drugs, pharmaceuticals, prescription and non-prescription alike, are all biologically active chemical formulations. When not secured and taken as directed, they can be toxic and addictive. Medications should be stored in their original containers in a secure manner, so they are not easy to access. When they are no longer needed, they should be disposed through a household take back program so the chemical formulations are destroyed via incineration.

Search the interactive Household Drug Take Back map to locate controlled substance, solid medication, and liquid medication takeback options across Michigan. To quickly learn how to use the map features, watch the video tutorial for the take back map.

Is my medication a controlled substance?

If a collection is not immediately available, ask if local law enforcement will be participating in the next national Drug Enforcement Administrator (DEA) Drug Take Back Day. If no options are available, follow the instructions on the Save a Life Card or our EGLE Classroom Drug Disposal video. 

Items like super glue, shoe glue, and adhesives for flooring and roofing are generally solvent-based. They can be toxic and ignitable (it could catch fire).

Fireworks, flares, and ammunition that are no longer needed or may be compromised due to age, moisture impact of or other factors may remain explosive and should be handled through a household hazardous waste collection or hazardous waste vendor when disposed.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), traditional fluorescent bulbs, green tip fluorescent bulbs, light emitting diode bulbs, and high intensity discharge lamps are a popular way to reduce energy use, but may include toxic materials like mercury, lead, and arsenic.

For information about how to respond to a mercury spill in your home, visit the MDHHS Mercury spills in homes webpage. For more information on Mercury, visit Michigan.gov/Mercury.

Some thermostats and thermometers contain mercury.

Mercury has received attention for decades as a serious pollutant because it is toxic and it bioaccumulates, or builds up, in living organisms.

For information about how to respond to a mercury spill in your home, visit the MDHHS Mercury spills in homes webpage. For more information on Mercury, visit Michigan.gov/Mercury.

Oil-based paint and stains often contain toxic solvents and pigments, including hobby-based oil paints. Latex paint sometimes contains toxic pigments. Stains for woodworking and decks often contain toxic solvents.

Some smoke detectors use a tiny radioactive source to detect smoke. You will know if it does because it will have a radiation symbol printed on its label. The best way to get rid of a smoke detector with a radioactive source is to send it back to the manufacturer. Check the label for contact information or check the USPS guidance on disposing of smoke detectors properly.

If the manufacturer does not have a take back program and the smoke detector has not been damaged, it is safe to dispose of it by ordinary municipal trash.

If the smoke detector has been damaged, please contact EGLE Radioactive Materials Unit at RadioactiveMaterial@Michigan.gov so that we can help ensure that it is disposed of safely.