If you’re looking to make way in your garage or basement for new summer toys, sporting goods, or just additional storage, both Berrien and Van Buren Counties will help you make room through major recycling events on the same day, Saturday, June 15th.
For Berrien County, it’s a Household Chemical and Electronics Recycling event in New Buffalo.
For Van Buren County, they’re terming it the largest household recycling collection to date.
Jill Adams, Environmental Property Manager for the Berrien County Parks & Recreation Department invites residents of Berrien County to properly recycle and dispose of household chemical waste and unwanted home electronic equipment on Saturday, June 15th at the New Buffalo Township Fire Station, located at 17655 Clay Street. The community recycling event runs 9 am to 1 pm. Accepted items include:
- Most household and garage chemicals and cleaners
- Pills, sharps and other home medical waste
- Batteries of all sizes
- Electronics
There is a fee of $20 per television and $10 per computer monitor, however all other items are accepted at no cost to residents. Donations are accepted and appreciated to help cover other collection costs.
Latex paint is NOT accepted at the County’s collection events. Latex paint can be dried out and placed in with regular household trash, so you are asked to NOT bring latex paint to the event. Other items that are not accepted are gas-grill size propane tanks, ammunition, and waste from business enterprises.
The event is for Berrien County residents only. Waste from businesses and institutions is not accepted at the County’s household collections. For more information contact the Berrien County Parks Department at www.berriencounty.org click Recycling Services, or call Jill Adams at 983-7111 x8234.
Meanwhile, that same day, the Van Buren Conservation District, with the support of Van Buren County and several Van Buren municipalities, will host the largest household recycling collection to date. The event is free to all Van Buren residents and landowners. All you need to bring is an ID or municipal document showing you’re a resident or landowner to access the services free of charge.
These items will be accepted at the collection:
- Household Hazardous Waste – kitchen/bathroom cleaners, batteries, light bulbs, anti-freeze, solvents, acids, bases, aerosol cans (not empty), mercury, and more. They will NOT accept motor oil, ammunition, explosives, asbestos, or radioactive materials.
- Paints including latex paint, oil-based paint, and aerosol paint cans
- Lawn/Garden Chemicals – small amounts of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Large amounts (farm or commercial use) can be disposed of for free at Clean Sweep Program collections. Large amounts of ‘-icides’ will not be accepted at this collection. Call the office for more information about Clean Sweep events.
- Passenger Tires – up to 10 passenger tires will be accepted per household because space is limited. All tires must be RSVP’d by June 14 in order to ensure space is available. Tires not RSVP’d will not be accepted.
- Large Tires – in a special collection this year, large truck, all tractor, and other large tires will be accepted. All tires must be RSVP’d by June 14 in order to ensure space is available. First 10 tires are free, tires 11-20 are $5 each, and tires 21+ are $10 each. Tires not RSVP’d will not be accepted.
- Confidential Documents – will be shredded on-site and recycled off-site
- Other Materials – medical sharps, American flags, hearing aids, eye glasses, and walking canes
The collection in Van Buren County will run from 9am until 1pm on Saturday, June 15th at the Van Buren Community Mental Health Building located at 801 Hazen Street in Paw Paw.
For more information, visit www.VanBurenCD.org/programs-services/recycling/. Call the Van Buren Conservation District office (269-657-4030 x5) to RSVP tires and to ask any questions.
