Department of Public Health

Environmental Sustainability Centers

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health operates four Environmental Sustainability Centers. Materials that are accepted at the centers include Household Hazardous Waste, Consumer Electronics and Recyclables.

If you have any questions regarding services, please call (616) 393-5645 or email environmentalhealth@miottawa.org.

Locations

• Holland
• Grand Haven
• Coopersville
• Georgetown
• Zeeland

Recycling

Environmental Health specialists work to provide Ottawa County residents with information about hazardous materials and recycling. Proper disposal at Environmental Sustainability Centers help prevent water pollution, which may lead to serious health risks. For a fee, Ottawa County offers residential recycling at the Environmental Sustainability Centers.

12 months: $100
9 months: $85
6 month: $65
3 month: $36

More information is available on the membership form. For additional recycling information call 616-393-5645.

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Consumer Electronics

Electronics often contain hazardous materials that should not be landfilled or incinerated. They also contain precious metals, glass, and plastics that should be recycled. Donating or recycling electronics at any Environmental Sustainability Centers, conserves natural resources and avoids air and water pollution. Computer equipment can also be recycled at any local Goodwill location.

Projection TVs, CRT TVs and CRT Computer Monitors

The Ottawa County Environmental Sustainability Centers accept projection TVs, Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TVs and CRT computer monitors for a fee.

• 30" and smaller: $10
• 30" and larger: $20
• Only credit/debit card payments accepted.
• Recyclers MUST be able to assist in unloading. If you cannot, please return with someone who can help.

If you are not sure whether your items qualify for recycling, please call (616) 393-5645 or email environmentalhealth@miottawa.org for more information.

Locations accepting these items for a FEE:

Comprenew
11379 East Lakewood Blvd
Holland (616) 355-4229
(Charges are based on screen size.)

Best Buy
Click Here For Accepted Items
3549 W. Shore Dr
Holland (616) 738-4183

4830 Wilson Ave SW
Grandville (616) 532-2024

5425 Harvey St
Muskegon (231) 798-6407
(Size limits may apply)

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Appliance Disposal

Washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers and freezers need to be disposed of properly. Although Ottawa County Department of Public Health does not offer any appliance disposal programs, there are other environmentally responsible options. Residents can call Black River Recycling & Supply at (616) 396-8587 for more information on disposal fees and/or purchase of your used appliance.

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Household Hazardous Waste Program

Improper disposal can contaminate. FREE household hazardous waste disposal is available to Ottawa County residents at any Environmental Sustainability Centers. Household hazardous wastes are leftover, unwanted or unusable products that contain toxic, flammable, caustic (causes burns) or chemically reactive ingredients.

Health hazards may occur when:

• toxic gasses are inhaled from mixed products
• hazardous products are left around the house and consumed by children or pets
• hazardous products are poured into drains or toilets, causing contamination of septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems
• hazardous products are poured into storm sewers and pollute bodies of water
• drinking water from wells or water systems are contaminated

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Small Business, Non-profit & Non-residential

We provide confidential, non-regulatory assistance and referral to properly manage industrial hazardous wastes. Our Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator program provides environmentally safe and economical disposal of hazardous waste at any of our Resource Recovery Service Centers. Appointments are required and a fee for services will apply. A conditionally exempt small quantity generator is one who creates less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste in a month or accumulates no more than 2,200 pounds total at a time.

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Medication Disposal

Prevent drug misuse and overdose. Free disposal of unwanted or expired prescription drugs and over the counter medications are accepted at participating locations. Please remove pills from bottles and place in a sealable plastic bag. Liquids or gels may be kept in original packages with the labels blackened or removed.

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Sharps Disposal

Safe disposal of needles help prevent exposure to serious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis. Free Home Use-Medical Sharps containers are available to residents at any Ottawa County Department of Public Health office. Once containers are full, you may exchange them for new ones at our offices. Only sharps containers provided by the Ottawa County Department of Public Health will be accepted. We dispose full containers through a licensed medical waste disposal company, to reduce any health or safety risks.

Click here for more information about the GR Red Project’s Clean Works Program – syringe access/needle exchange program.

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Used Motor Oil Recycling

Each year, thousands of gallons of used motor oil is produced by do-it-yourself oil changes. Improper management of used oil can have detrimental effects on the environment. As little as one quart of oil can contaminate 2 million gallons of drinking water! Ottawa County residents can recycle used oil or any other automotive fluids (free of charge) at any Resource Recover Service Center.

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What to do with Latex Paint

Unusable latex paint, while not considered hazardous, must be dried prior to disposal. When drying latex paint, always choose an area that is well ventilated, protected from the elements and not accessible to children or pets.

For small amounts of paint, simply open the container and allow the contents to air dry. To solidify larger quantities of latex paint, mix in an absorbent such as cat litter. Mix in enough absorbent until the paint becomes difficult to stir and is no longer liquid. Allow to dry with the lid off. The container may be placed in the regular trash.

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Scrap Tires are a known environmental hazard due to the ability to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes which can spread diseases, fire hazards that are difficult to extinguish, and can also causes soil and water contamination. Recycled tires can be used for items like playground cover, fuel, drainfield aggregate, and road construction materials.

Ottawa County’s Environmental Sustainability Centers will be collecting scrap tires at all four centers by appointment only starting May 3rd , 2021 during fair weather months. We are unable to accept tires without an appointment.

• All tires must be free of any dirt, debris, and water
• Residental Tires ONLY
• Scrap tire fee is $2 until the end of August or until the grant limit is reached
• Scrap tire will be $6 at the start of September or until the grant limit is reached
• Residents are limited to 10 tires per appointment
• All tires must be free of dirt, water, and debris
• NO tractor, airplane, or semi-truck tires will be accepted
• Any nonconforming tire will not be accepted
• Residents must be willing and able to assist in the unloading of tires
• Centers accept credit card payments only
• Cash or check payments must be done in advance at the Holland Department of Public Health at 12251 James St. Suite 200, Holland, MI 49424. Bring the receipt with you at your appointment.

Mercury

Mercury is a toxic element found in household devices like thermometers and thermostats. Mercury should be carefully handled to prevent mercury spills and should be properly disposed. Exposure or inhalation of mercury vapors can lead to neurological damage and several other health hazards.

Mercury Containing Thermometers

Mercury Containing Devices and Elemental Mercury

Schools, homes, health care facilities, and businesses may have mercury containing devices such as barometers, thermometers, sphygmomanometers, mercury switches and elemental mercury. Please call (616) 393-5645 for instructions on proper handling of mercury and to arrange for disposal.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) and fluorescent lights contain very small amounts of mercury in the form of a vapor powder. Local retailers may accept CFLs. To find an outlet near you, please visit www.earth911.com and use the search function for your area. Ottawa County residents can recycle four and eight foot fluorescent light bulbs (free of charge) at any Ottawa County Environmental Sustainability Center. A fee for disposal services will apply to businesses.

Useful Links

• Click for more mercury information
• How to clean up a mercury spill
• Information about CFLs from Energy Star
• CFL fact sheet from the State of Michigan

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Clean Sweep Free Pesticide Disposal

Clean Sweep is a FREE, non-regulatory program to help you safely dispose of banned and/or unusable pesticides or herbicides. Any Michigan homeowner, farm, greenhouse, nursery, golf course or other end user of pesticides or herbicides can use this service. Old, unwanted, out-of-date or unusable pesticides or herbicides can be dropped off (free of charge) for safe disposal at one of our Environmental Sustainability Centers.

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Scrap Metal

More information coming soon

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Composting

Ottawa County’s Environmental Sustainability Program has started a Food Composting Program. We are piloting this program at two of our Environmental Sustainability Centers (formally Resource Recovery Centers). Our Grand Haven and Holland locations will now be hosting the Food Composting Program. We are offering it to all Ottawa County Residents and Small Businesses. Residents will purchase a compostable bag and sign up with site attendant then return the bag once it’s full. Small businesses will have an option to purchase a weekly or monthly membership where they can bring in their food waste in a compostable bag with deleted in their membership.

All food waste accepted. No yard waste.

Residential Membership: $5 per bag (return bag once full)
Small Business Membership: $12 weekly/ $40 monthly

Composting is taking organic material such as food waste and breaking down into enriching soil. Using compost is an easy way to reduce chemical fertilizers but at the same time prevent soil erosion, naturally increase soil fertility, improves water retention, and ultimate reduce the amount of useable material taken to our local landfills. Composting is an easy way Ottawa County residents can reduce waste and increase Ottawa County’s sustainability.

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Vehicles

• Donate a Car to Vehicles for Veterans
• Goodwill Car Donation
• Kids Car Donations

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