Special Events
Special recycling events are where you can recycle and dispose of hard-to-recycle items like electronics, household hazardous waste, and boat wrap. These are planned events, so be sure to check the page for future events.
Reserve Your Spot at Our HHW Event Today!
Upcoming Events
Electronics
Old or broken electronics are not worthless! Electronics can often be reused, refurbished, or recycled. Many electronics contain precious materials such as iron, gold, aluminum, palladium, platinum, lithium, and copper. These materials take energy and money to mine, refine, and turn into products. By recycling electronics, we can reduce the strain on our natural resources and reduce pollution from improper disposal of electronic waste. Iosco County offers electronics recycling events for all residents, including the secure destruction and recycling of hard drives and other electronics with sensitive data. In general, these are the types of electronics you can dispose of at electronics recycling events:
- TVs & Monitors (flat screens, LCD/LED TVs, CRT TVs and monitors)
- Personal Electronics (laptops and computers, DVD and stereo equipment, gaming consoles)
- Batteries (lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, alkaline)
- Small Office Equipment (small printers, fax machines, toner and ink cartridges)
- Small Electronics (cords, keyboards and mice, and phones or tablets)
- Other Electronics (non-PCB ballasts, light fixtures)
NEXT EVENT:
October 10, 2026
Eagle Point Plaza
415 E. Main St., Hale, MI 48739
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Not every product in your home is safe to just throw away in the trash. Some products are considered hazardous and require special disposal to protect both our environment and community. Products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain conditions, or that are corrosive are known as household hazardous waste (HHW). Improper disposal or storage of these products can lead to environmental pollution or pose a risk to children and pets. Iosco County offers periodic HHW collection events so you can dispose of your products the right way.
Materials accepted may vary by event, but generally, the following materials are considered HHW:
- Flammable Liquids
- Automotive Fluids
- Cleaning Products
- Aerosol Cans
- Pesticides & Herbicides
- Small Propane Cylinders
NEXT EVENT:
September 12, 2026
Iosco County Airport
1131 Aulerich Rd, East Tawas, MI 48730
Stayed tuned for a flyer for a full list of acceptable materials and additional details.
Springtime Boat Wrap Recycling
Iosco County Recycling is participating in the Michigan Recycling Coalition’s Recycle Run. This program offers boat owners an opportunity to recycle their shrink wrap each spring. This is a self-serve program, so staff will not be available to assist you with your drop off.
How To Participate
Pick Up Your EZ-Fill Recycle Run Bag: Bags are for sale for $5. There will be a limited quantity available and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. You can buy them at:
- Rogers Family Foods (5112 US-23, Oscoda and 3195 M-65, Hale)
- Tawas Hardware (108 W. Lake St., Tawas City)
- Iosco County Treasurer’s Office (422 W. Lake St., Tawas City)
Prepare Your Boat Wrap: Remove all strapping, buckles, vents and zippers before placing the shrink wrap in the bag. Each bag comes with a zip tie to seal it, along with instructions on how to remove your boat covers. Bags are industrial size and can hold up to a 32’ boat. One bag can hold 1 large boat cover or 1-3 small boat covers.
Drop Off Your Bag to Recycle: Look for the boat wrap drop-off signs at the following sites:
- Whittemore Chamber of Commerce (405 E. Sherman St., Whittemore)
- Oscoda Area Schools Athletic Complex (3550 E. River Rd., Oscoda)
- Tawas Bay Ice Arena (200 M-55, Tawas City)
- Near Plainfield Township Library (220 N. Washington St. (M-65), Hale)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is paint considered hazardous waste?
Oil-based paint is considered hazardous due to its flammability; however, latex paint is not considered hazardous. We do not accept latex paint at our hazardous waste events because it can be disposed of safely at home. Simply let your latex paint cans dry up with the lid off or use kitty litter to help speed up the process. Then, you can simply throw them away as normal.
Is there a permanent drop-off site for hazardous household waste or electronic waste?
There are no permanent drop-off sites for household hazardous waste or electronic waste. You may be fined or prosecuted if you leave these materials behind at the permanent drop-sites for traditional recyclables. The boat wrap recycling program offers a temporary drop-off site each spring.
Can businesses participate in special waste recycling events?
Businesses can participate in electronics recycling events but may be limited by how much volume that they can bring in at a time. Contact the county for more information. For HHW, Certain types of businesses, those that qualify as Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG) may be able to participate in special events but are subject to contact the county in advance and will need to provide additional information.
What do I do if I miss an event?
Unfortunately, you will need to wait until the next event to drop off hazardous household waste or e-waste.