These Things are Illegal to Throw Away in Michigan

Not everything that you no longer have a use for can be thrown away in Michigan. Sure, there are lots of things that you can toss in the garbage without a second thought. That dirty napkin and paper plate... yeah, go ahead and toss that in the trash. However, there are more than a few things that you can't throw away in the state of Michigan.

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And when I say "can't" throw them away, I mean it's quite literally illegal to do so.

Things That Are Illegal to Throw Away in Michigan

Some items can't be thrown away in your regular trash, they need to be disposed of properly. And if they're not, you could find yourself behind bars or facing a hefty penalty.

Read Related: Michigan Goodwill Doesn't Accept These 19 Items

So, to help you avoid breaking the law, check out the list below. It tells you what's illegal to throw away in Michigan and how you can dispose of it properly.

Yard Clippings

No matter what season or type of yard trimming (leaves, grass clippings, sticks, etc), yard waste cannot be thrown away with your regular trash. You can compost them at home or at a local facility. Or, you can throw them in yard waste bags and take them to the curb to be picked up.

Old Tires

While some landfills may accept old tires or scrap tires, they need to be processed first: cut in half, shredded, or chipped into small pieces. Otherwise, tires can be recycled, find out where HERE.

Beverage Containers (returnable beer, pop, and other glass, aluminum, and plastic)

There's a reason why Michigan has a bottle deposit and return of 10 cents per container, they want those to be recycled! So don't just throw them away, because you could get fined up to $1,000. Take returnables to the store to get your dime back and recycle them. If you didn't pay a deposit, you can recycle it with your normal household recycling.

Lead Acid Batteries

Some retailers that sell these types of batteries will have places for you to recycle them. Check out some other options HERE.

Asbestos

We all know asbestos is extremely harmful when inhaled. So not only does this need to be removed from your home properly, it needs to be disposed of properly. Here are some safe methods of demolition and removal.