Kent County Issues Reminder After Fire At Recycling Center

It never feels good when you do something with good intentions and things still go wrong. Like when you get a gift for someone, but they already have it. Or last week, when I locked the back door in the middle of the night and accidentally locked my roommate out in the rain (oops).

That's the tone presented in a Facebook post by the Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) following a small fire at the Recycling Center last Friday. The DPW is responsible for recycling and waste management in Kent County, and they wanted to remind everyone of what should and shouldn't be placed in a recycling bin.

What Happened At The Recycling Center?

One of the number one things that should never be thrown in either the trash or a recycling bin is a lithium battery. Not only can these emit toxic chemicals when sitting in a landfill, but if they are crushed or damaged during processing, they can become a fire hazard. While batteries can be recycled at specialized battery recycling facilities, they should not be placed in household recycling bins.

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The reason for this is precisely what happened on Friday, October 17th: a computer battery that someone put in a recycling bin started a small fire, but was thankfully put out before it could spread.

The DPW would like to remind the community that the only items that should be placed in the recycling bins are paper, cardboard, plastic jugs/tubs, metal cans/foil, and glass. These are typically highlighted on the municipal/household recycling bin itself.

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If you are looking to recycle a battery or another "hazardous item," it can be brought to any of the 5 SafeChem locations around the county. If you have any questions about what can or can't be recycled, please call 616-632-7920, email recycle@kentcountymi.gov, check the directory on reimaginetrash.org, or visit the Recycling Center in person.