Recycling is one of the easiest ways you can help the environment. Here in Grand Rapids, it’s especially easy to do thanks to our city’s free recycling pickup service.
And while it may be tempting to try to sneak a few things into your recycling bin in hopes you won’t have to pay as much for your trash, it turns out that what you put in that blue bin with the yellow top really does matter. Recently, the Kent County Recycling Center experienced a fire all because someone put something they weren’t supposed to in their recycling.
BELOW: 11 Items that are illegal to throw away in Michigan ⬇️
An unknown resident threw a lithium ion battery into their recycling, and it caused a small fire at their facility. Fortunately, quick action by one of their staff members prevented it from getting out of hand. It’s still a scary reminder that one small mistake in our home trash could have major consequences.
Even if a battery is “dead,” that doesn’t mean it’s out of fuel that could spark a fire. That’s why they must never go in your recycling bin, or even your normal everyday trash…