Hazardous Materials and Disposal, City of Novi, Michigan (MI)

Hazardous Materials

Hazardous Materials Reporting Packet
(includes reporting requirements, hazardous chemical definitions and all related forms)

A hazardous material is any material capable of posing unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property. A common sense approach, is that a material could be considered hazardous when it escapes its container and hurts or harms the thing it touches. The more aware people become of hazardous materials, waste products and recyclable materials the more questions arise as to where these materials can be disposed of and recycled.

Train crash with hazardous material spilled. The City of Novi has addressed the recycling of paper, plastics, glass, and cans with the Recycling Center located at the Department of Public Services facility on Delwal Dr. The problem of disposing of household hazardous chemicals has also been addressed with an annual Household Hazardous Waste Day. In an effort to reduce the hazards and improve disposal methods, the table shown below gives examples on how and where to dispose of common household hazardous materials.

Material	Hazard Class	Disposal
Pesticides & Herbicides	Poisonous	Take to Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Wood preservatives	Poisonous & Flammable	Take to Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Empty pesticide container	Poisonous residue	Rinse container 3 times. Use rinse water as full-strength pesticide. Discard container in the trash.
Paints	Flammable	Use up leftover paint on other projects. Latex paint: if only a small amount is left, open can and let liquid evaporate outdoors, away from children and pets. Dispose of can in trash. Oil-Based paint: take oil-based paints, larger amounts of latex paints, and lead-based paints to collection site.
Used paint thinner	Flammable	Recycle by storing in a closed jar until particles settle. Strain off the clear liquid for reuse. Dry remaining sludge, wrap in plastic and discard in the trash.
Rust remover, turpentine, furniture stripper	Flammable	Take to Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Used motor oil	Combustible & Carcinogen	Take to Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Antifreeze	Poisonous & Flammable	Take to Household Hazardous Waste Day. Don’t pour antifreeze down drain
Gasoline (bad)	Flammable	Take to Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Car batteries	Corrosive	Trade in for new battery or take to Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Cleaners, drain openers, oven & toilet bowl cleaners, bleach	Corrosive & Poisonous	Use up according to label directions or offer to others that can use them. Dispose of small amounts by diluting with lots of water and pouring down drain.
Furniture polish, spot removers	Flammable	Use up according to label directions or offer to others that can use them. Or take to Household Hazardous Waste Day.