Proper waste disposal is one way you can help preserve and protect our watershed.
Recycling or composting ordinary waste helps protect the watershed by minimizing the amount of waste buried in nearby landfill sites.
Virtually all the solid waste collected in the watershed is buried in landfills ??????????? Although landfills utilize techniques intended to protect groundwater from waste-related contamination, if leakage occurs, pollutants can affect both the nearby groundwater and surface water.
Paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass may generally be recycled. Please refer to the Leelanau County Recycling Guide for more details.
Both Antrim and Kalkaska Counties offer a number of convenient locations for household recycling. Find a location near you, and see for yourself how easy it is to protect the watershed through your recycling efforts!
Fruits and vegetables, grains, eggshells, and certain paper products (including unbleached napkins and coffee filters) may generally be composted. Composting organic kitchen waste protects our watershed. It not only reduces the volume of household waste placed in nearby landfills, but it lightens the load on your septic system.
Unfortunately, hazardous chemicals are extremely common in everyday household use. Anything labeled “Poison”, “Danger”, “Flammable”, or “Warning” should be considered toxic and a significant threat to the watershed.
Oil, gasoline, antifreeze, and old paint are just a few examples of hazardous chemicals which may be found in just about every home or garage within the Elk and Skegemog Lakes area. If these chemicals are not properly disposed of, they can ultimately enter the groundwater. Throwing out hazardous waste with other household garbage or pouring hazardous liquids down the drain will cause great harm to the watershed.
Did you know?
One gallon of motor oil waste poured into the soil can make its way into the groundwater supply, ruin water wells, and take hundreds of years to work its way out of the water system.
Both Antrim and Leelanau counties sponsor a hazardous waste collection program. Contact the county you live in for more information.
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