Bleach and TVs: How to drop off, pick up old stuff in Kent County

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Kent County Department of Public Works wants residents to know there is a better way to dispose of cleaning supplies, electronics and other household items.

The SafeChem program offers those living in the county the chance to safely get rid of hazardous waste by dropping it off at one of the five locations in Grand Rapids, Rockford, Grandville, Kentwood and Byron Center.

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The items that can be dropped off include cleaning supplies like window cleaner and bleach, painting supplies, gardening products and even electronics like televisions and microwaves. DPW will accept these items for free and you won’t even have to leave your car.

“We just really don’t want it getting into the ground, drain or anything like that,” Micah Herrboldt, a DPW waste reduction educator, said.

But what happens to these items once they are dropped off? They’re stored at the facility, categorized and then put on shelves for other residents to use. Again, for free.

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That means you can head to your nearest SafeChem location during operating hours and actually grab items that you might need around your own house, including those appliances. It’s a sort of “swap shop” that provides dual benefits for residents. All you need to do is sign a waiver after collecting the items.

“People can come in and grab whatever they see that they might possibly need,” Herrboldt said. “We just ask that if they don’t use it, they bring it back so that someone else can use it or we can dispose of it properly.”

You can learn more about the SafeChem dropoff centers by clicking here.

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