Van Buren Conservation District

Recycling Guides

How to Use This Page

Check out information on reuse, recycling, and reducing your waste. Find recycling and disposal options by item and service type. Scroll down to find some sustainability guides and statewide directories. 

Click on the image of the Recycling Guide to access the latest published PDF of the guide.

Use the hyperlinked “What Do I Do With…” list of items to quickly find item-specific information. 

Acids & Bases
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Aerosol Cans
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
American Flags
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • Hartford American Legion
    • 66297 Red Arrow Hwy, Hartford
    • 269-252-3589
    • Flag Retirement Program following July 4th – Call for drop-off arrangements
  • Paw Paw American Legion 
    • 115 North Niles Street, Paw Paw
    • 269-657-8345
    • Drop box in front of hall
  • Lawrence American Legion 
    • 130 East St. Joseph Street, Lawrence 
    • 269-674-3445
    • Drop box in front of hall
Ammunition, Firearms, & Weapons
  • Michigan State Police
    • 43255 60th Avenue Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-5551
    • Call ahead to schedule drop-off first
  • Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department
    • 205 S Kalamazoo Street Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-2006
    • Call ahead to schedule drop-off first
Anti-Freeze

❋ Ask your auto shop if it accepts anti-freeze, if that is more convenient than the locations below!

❋ Be sure to call ahead before dropping off antifreeze.

  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • C Stoddard & Sons
  • Heritage Crystal Clean (commercial and industrial quantities)
  • Muffler Man
    • 274 Broadway Street, South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-1811
    • Facebook
    • Performance Plus Quick Lube
Appliances

Working

Not Working

  • Clarks Auto Parts & Salvage
    • 56472 Red Arrow Highway Lawrence, MI
    • 269-674-4905
    • Facebook 
  • Community Thrift Shop
  • L & L Auto Parts and Salvage
  • Lakeshore Appliance
    • 19883 Blue Star Highway South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-8933
  • McPike Auto Salvage
    • 25172 CR 665 Bloomingdale, MI
    • 269-521-7673
  • Senior Services South Haven
    • 8337 M-140 South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-3607
    • Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM 
  • South Haven Recyclers
    • 3110 67th Street South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-4828
Asbestos
Automobiles
Batteries

Household:

  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • VBCD Drop off Program:
    • Antwerp Sunshine Van Buren District Library
      • 24823 Front Ave, Mattawan
      • 269-668-2534
    • Bangor Van Buren District Library
      • 420 Division St., Bangor
      • 269-427-8810
    • Covert Van Buren District Library
      • 33680 M-140 Hwy, Covert
      • 269-764-1298
    • Hartford Public Library
      • 15 S Franklin St., Hartford
      • 269-621-3408
    • Lawrence Van Buren District Library
      • 212 N Paw Paw St., Lawrence 
      • 269-628-4537
    • Paw Paw Public Library
      • 609 W Michigan Ave, Paw Paw 
      • 269-567-3800
    • Webster Memorial Van Buren District Library
      • 200 N Phelps St., Decatur
      • 269-423-4771
    • Van Buren Conservation District Office
      • 1035 E Michigan Ave Paw Paw
      • 269-657-4030 X5

Automotive:

  • Advance Auto Parts
    • 306 S Kalamazoo Street Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-4357
  • Clarks Auto Parts & Salvage
    • 56472 Red Arrow Highway Lawrence, MI
    • 269-674-4905
    • Facebook 
  • L & L Auto Parts and Salvage
  • McPike Auto Salvage
    • 25172 CR 665 Bloomingdale, MI
    • 269-521-7673
  • South Haven Recyclers
    • 3110 67th Street South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-4828
Books

❋ Before donating, please ensure the books are in good condition because the libraries often use the donated books for book sales.

Cardboard Beverage Cartons
  • Best Way Disposal
    • Operates: Antwerp Transfer Station, Geneva/South Haven Transfer Station, and Paw Paw Transfer Station and recycling in Village of Decatur and City of Bangor
    • Be sure to clean inside of carton and allow to dry before tightly screwing cap on and putting in recycling 
  • Republic Services
    • Be sure to clean inside of carton and allow to dry before tightly screwing cap on and putting in recycling 
  • Waste Management 
    • Be sure to clean inside of carton and allow to dry before tightly screwing cap on and putting in recycling
Concrete & Asphalt
  • Consumers Concrete
    • 1100 Nazareth Road Kalamazoo, MI
    • 269-342-9869 
    • Accepts: concrete, asphalt, and brick, Free 
  • Jensen’s Excavating
Construction Materials
Cooking Oil
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Electronic Cigarettes / E-Cigs
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Electronics
Explosives
Eye Glasses
Fire Extinguishers
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • Summit Fire Protection
Fuels
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Garden Flats & Pots
Hazardous Chemical Waste
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • Kalamazoo Household Hazardous Waste
    • 1301 Lamont Avenue Kalamazoo, MI
    • 269-373-5211
    • http://www.kalcounty.com/hhw/ 
    • Free for Antwerp township residents
    • See website for full list of accepted items
Hearing Aids
Helium Tanks
  • Tanks need to be prepared using the steps below, and then recycle as scrap metal.
    1. Ensure tank is empty by opening the tank and pushing down nozzle until hissing sound stops
    2. Remove Nozzle and discard
    3. Use hammer and screwdriver to remove the small disk
Ink & Toner Cartridges
  • Cartridge World
    • 4512 Stadium Drive Kalamazoo, MI
    • 269-342-6331
    • Original Cartridges Only, unable to take refillable cartridges 
  • Target Stores
  • Check out your other local retail stores such as Meijer and Walmart
Junk Mail
Lighting
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
    • Accepts: lamp ballasts and lightbulbs (compact fluorescent and any mercury-containing light bulbs)
  • Kalamazoo Household Hazardous Waste
    • 1301 Lamont Avenue Kalamazoo, MI
    • 269-373-5211
    • http://www.kalcounty.com/hhw/ 
    • Free for Antwerp township residents
    • See website for full list of accepted items
Mattresses
Medications
  • Meijer Pharmacy
    • 1223 Phoenix Street, South Haven, MI 49090
    • 269-639-3510
    • Available when the pharmacy is open 
    • Not Accepted: Illegal drugs, sharps/needles, thermometers, liquids, inhalers
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • Van Buren County Red Med Box
    • After medications are dropped in the Red Med Boxes, the medications are picked up by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit to be destroyed.
    • https://www.vanburencountymi.gov/266/Red-Med-Box
    • Locations
  • National Drug Take Back 
    • https://www.dea.gov/takebackday
    • Van Buren Locations:
      • Bronson Wellness Center
        • 950 South Bailey Street, South Haven, MI 49090
      • Antwerp Activity Center
        • 24821 Front Street Mattawan, MI 49071
Mercury
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
    • Accepts: metallic mercury, thermometers containing mercury, smoke alarms, etc.
Oil & Oil Filters

Oil must be free of all contamination (e.g. dirt, water, etc.) in order to be accepted.

Contact your auto shop to see if they accept oil or oil filters if that is more convenient!

  • Advance Auto Parts
    • 306 S Kalamazoo Street Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-4357
    • Accepts: oil only
  • C Stoddard & Sons
    • 3456 12th Street Wayland, MI
    • 269-792-6591
    • https://www.stoddardoil.com/ 
    • Accepts large quantities of oil and oil filters. Call for cost information.
  • Critical Car Care
    • 37308 W Red Arrow Highway Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-655-0911
    • Accepts: oil only
  • Dan’s Automotive
  • Decatur Towing & Auto Center
    • 47211 M-51 Highway Decatur, MI
    • 269-423-9020
    • Accepts: oil only
  • Muffler Man
    • 274 Broadway Street South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-1811
    • Facebook
    • Accepts: oil and oil filters
  • O’Reilly Auto Parts
    • Paw Paw
      • 735 S Kalamazoo Street Paw Paw, MI
      • 269-657-2886
    • South Haven
      • 383 Blue Star Highway South Haven, MI
      • 269-206-3393
    • Accepts: oil and oil filters
  • Performance Plus Quick Lube
  • Seelye of Paw Paw
    • 161 Ampey Road Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-3124
    • Accepts: oil and oil filters. Must call ahead to schedule drop off.
  • SNK Transmission & Auto Repair
  • South Haven Recyclers
    • 3110 67th Street South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-4828
    • Accepts: oil only. Must call ahead to schedule drop off.
  • Tractor Supply
    • 1000 S Kalamazoo Street Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-2107
    • Accepts: oil (limited to 5 gallons per drop off)
  • Walmart Tire & Lube
    • 201 73rd Street South Haven, MI
    • 269-639-2360
    • Accepts: oil and oil filters
Oral Care Waste (i.e. toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes)
  • Oral-B Recycle on Us
    • https://oralb.com/en-us/recycling/
    • Accepted Items: toothbrushes, brush heads, toothpaste tubes, mouthwash containers, floss containers, and floss picks- all brands are accepted
    • Request a free shipping label on the website, gather your materials and a box, and ship. 
Oxygen Tanks
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Paint
  • Check out our Paint Disposal Guide 
  • ePaint Recyclers
    • 551 Michigan Avenue Battle Creek, MI
    • 269-760-8143
    • www.epaintrecycling.com 
    • Accepts: oil-based, latex, and aerosol paints
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
    • Accepts: oil-based and aerosol paints
Personal Beauty & Hygiene Products
  • Eleanor’s Pantry
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
    • Accepts: opened/unopened perfume, makeup, nail polish, nail polish remover, hair styling products, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, etc.
Pesticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides, and Rodenticides
  • Clean Sweep Collections
    • Occurs twice yearly
    • See site for dates, times, and locations
    • “-icides” must be created in Michigan
    • Accepts: containers with “-icides” leftover
    • Fertilizer is NOT accepted
    • Registration prior to the collections is required and can be done at the site linked above.
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Plastic Bags
Plastic Drums and Barrels
Propane Tanks & Cylinders
PVC
Railroad Ties

❋The following landfills will accept railroad ties depending on the condition of the ties and the quantity.

  • Orchard Hill (Best Way Disposal)
  • Miller Road Transfer Station (Best Way Disposal)
Scrap Metal / Salvage Sharps

**excludes propane tanks**

**includes empty fuel tanks**

  • Clarks Auto Parts & Salvage
    • 56472 Red Arrow Highway Lawrence, MI
    • 269-674-4905
    • Facebook 
  • Community Thrift Shop
  • L & L Auto Parts and Salvage
    • 59333 S Lagrave Street Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-5933
  • McPike Auto Salvage
    • 25172 CR 665 Bloomingdale, MI
    • 269-521-7673
  • South Haven Recyclers
    • 3110 67th Street South Haven, MI
    • 269-637-4828
Sharps

❋Sharps must be in Sharps Container or in thick plastic jug (e.g. detergent bottle) labeled “Sharps” if there is not a sharps container already provided by the disposal service

  • BD Safe-Clip 
    • Available at Walmart for ~$8
    • Clips and stores the ends of needles. The clipped needle is stored in the BD Safe-Clip. 
    • The syringe can then be discarded in the trash.
    • When the BD Safe-Clip is full (holds up to 1,500 needles), discard it in the trash.
  • DLD Disposal, Inc.
    • 800-685-9824
    • 331 Broad Street Plainwell, MI
  • Mail Your Sharps
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • Republic Sharps Needle Disposal Mail Back Service
  • Sharps Recovery Systems
  • Van Buren/Cass District Health Department’s Free Collection Events
    • Van Buren and Cass County residents can now dispose of used hypodermic needles, syringes, and lancets, more commonly referred to as “sharps” 
      • 260 South Street, Lawrence
      • 302 South Front Street, Dowagiac
    • One day collections. See website for details. 
  • Waste Management MedWaste Tracker Safe Solutions
Shred Paper

❋ Local credit unions often offer “shred days” periodically throughout the year. Visit the website link or call your local credit union to inquire about days you can drop off paper that needs to be shredded.

Smoke Detectors
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Solvents
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
StyrofoamTM/Polystyrene & Packaging Materials
  • UPS Stores
    • Paw Paw
      • 239 E Michigan Avenue
      • 269-657-8080
    • South Haven
      • 225 Broadway Street
      • 269-637-8388
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
Tires
  • Recycle Roundup Collections for Van Buren County Residents and Landowners
    • Available as One-Day Collections
    • See Events page for dates, times, and locations
  • SNK Transmission & Auto Repair
  • Walmart Tire & Lube
    • 201 73rd Street South Haven, MI
    • 269-639-2260
VHS Tapes
Vinyl Siding
Wheelchairs, Canes, Crutches, & Walkers
  • Hartford Loan Closet
    • 19 W Main Street, Hartford, MI
    • 269-621-4266
  • Lions Club
    • 115 N Niles Street Paw Paw, MI
    • 269-657-9954
    • Accepts: canes only
  • VFW Posts
    • Decatur
      • 560 N Phelps Street
      • 269-423-7454
    • Paw Paw
      • 115 N Niles Street
      • 269-657-9954
    • South Haven
      • 1070 Bailey Avenue
      • 269-637-2304
Yard Waste
  • Kalamazoo Landscape Supplies
    • 5111 S 9th Street Kalamazoo, MI
    • 269-375-8000
    • Accepts: grass clippings, tree trimmings, and dirt-free leaves
    • Does NOT accept: sod or dirt
    • Service is offered spring through fall and costs $7.75/cubic yard
  • Local Garbage Haulers
  • Transfer Stations
    • https://vanburencd.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/VBC-Transfer-Stations.pdf

How to Reuse, Recycle, and Dispose of Your Refuse

Reuse – repurpose products for new uses or donate products for further use by others

Recycle – collect and process materials to turn them into new products

Refuse – municipal solid waste (household garbage)

Use the links below to learn where to reuse, recycle, and dispose of various items.

Guides

Van Buren County Recycling Guide
A convenient listing of waste reduction and recycling opportunities along with tips on safer disposal alternatives for potentially hazardous waste. Download the printable Recycling Guide here or come into the district office or your township/village/city office to get your copy!

Sustainable Product Guide
A guide to cleaning product alternatives

Sustainability-oriented Guides
A collection of guides with sustainability tips about glass, plastic, banking, pet ownership, and more!

Safer Choice Program Product List
To access a list of safer cleaning and other products, visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice Program Product List!

Composting 101
Put your food scraps to use by starting your own compost pile!

Curbside Recycling & Garbage Disposal Services
Contact service providers in your are to determine what is available to you and at what cost. 

Food Pantries
Food pantries can be a great place to donate non-expired food that you cannot use. 

Thrift Shops & Consignment Stores
Donating items that are no longer needed or wanted is a great way to keep items out of the landfills. 

Transfer Stations in Van Buren County
When curbside recycling & garbage disposal isn’t meeting all of your needs, look for a transfer station that can help.

VBCD-sponsored Cardboard & Mixed Paper Recycling Drop-off
At no direct cost, you can recycle cardboard and mixed paper in Gobles. 

Recycling Directories

EGLE has put together an easy-to-use Household Drug Take Back Map to help you find locations to dispose of your medications. You can access the map here. You can also access the Red Med Box locations in Van Buren County here.

Properly disposing of your medications protects human, animal, and environmental health. Flushing medications down the drain leads to trace amounts of drugs being found in our water.

Did you know EGLE (formerly DEQ) has two recycling directories aimed at connecting everyone with useful recycling opportunities near them?

One directory is geared towards residents, and the other directory is geared towards businesses.

If you’re a resident, check out the Michigan Recycling Directory by clicking on the banner!

If you’re a business, check out the Recycled Materials Market Directory by clicking on the banner!

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