City offering free disposal of toxic products Saturday

The Wixom Department of Public Works (DPW) will be hosting its first household Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to bring chemicals, oil-based paints and other toxic products for disposal free of charge to the DPW building located at 2041 Charms Road.

“It’s a great service,” said Assistant City Manager Tony Nowicki. “If residents don’t have a place to dispose of their hazardous waste, it could wind up in a garage where little ones could get a hold of it or in a land fill where it could potentially contaminate the groundwater or even in our water treatment plant.”

Household hazardous waste materials may be corrosive, toxic, flammable or reactive. Examples include expired medications, lead-based paint and mercury thermometers. Cleaners that contain strong acids, bleach or ammonia are also hazardous. If in doubt, read the label. Warnings such as “poison or “toxic” or “flammable” are clear signs that the material is hazardous.

Even items such as used tires and scrap metal are accepted. For a complete list of hazardous materials accepted at the event, visit the city’s website at www.cityofwixom.com.

Items not accepted include latex paint, unknowns, commercial waste, fire extinguishers, flares, ammunition, and smoke detectors.

There is a 100-pound or three-box limit per household.

As an added bonus, paper shredding is now available during the event.

“Paper shredding is a tremendous benefit in the wake of identity theft,” Nowicki said.