DOWAGIAC — Since 1999, Cass County’s household hazardous waste, household electronic waste and used tire collection has redirected 90,515 pounds of products — 45 tons — deposited by 883 participants.

While the two biggest totals were 17,500 pounds the second year in 2000 and 11,765 pounds the third year in 2001, those years there were two collections, one in spring and one in fall.

There was no collection in 2006.

Dan Rajzer, Michigan State University Extension educator, spoke to Dowagiac Rotary Club Thursday noon at Elks Lodge 889 as the guest of Cass County Commissioner Robert Wagel.

“The big thing is automotive liquids,” he continued. “This is primarily used motor oil and antifreeze. That was at 39.6 percent, so we did an educational program over the next couple of years” highlighting other ways to dispose of used motor oil, such as recycling or businesses that burn it as a heating source.

“Through that effort, we were able to drop that down to only 11.3 percent of the volume in 2010. Household pesticides actually increased from 4.5 to 10.9 percent,” he said.

A total of 2,781 tires has been collected.

The board of commissioners co-sponsors the effort with MSU Extension and has spent $90,420 since 1999 providing the service.

Cass County’s household hazardous waste, household electronic waste and used tire collection takes place Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to noon at the fairgrounds, 590 O’Keefe St., Cassopolis.

To participate, complete a registration form and return it to MSU Extension, 120 North Broadway, Suite 209, Cassopolis, MI 49031.

Acceptable items include: from your home, aerosols, dry-cell batteries, bug sprays, chlorine beach, dyes, floor care products, floor wax, furniture polish, mercury batteries, oven cleaners, scouring powders, spot and stain removers, spray dust cleaners, upholstery cleaners, carpet cleaners, moth balls and flakes, ammonia, lamp oil and drain cleaners; from your workshop, alcohols, creosote, cutting oil, adhesives and cements, mineral spirits, naptha, paint brush cleaners, polyurethane coatings, rust remover, wood stain, wood preservatives, oil-based paint, artist’s paints, model paints, strippers, thinners, muriatic acid, sulfuric acid and varnishes; from your garage, anti-freeze, brake fluid, car wax, rubbing compounds, metal polishes, diesel fuel, gasoline, two-cycle gas mixes, engine cleaners, starting fluid, gas/diesel additives, kerosene, degreasers, transmission fluid, fiberglass epoxy and radiator flushes; from your garden, algaecides, ant and roach powder, bug sprays, fertilizer, fly strips, fungicides, garden dusts and sprays, insecticides, rat and rodent poison and weed killer; and miscellaneous, mercury, dry cleaning solvents, gun cleaning solvents, lighter fluid, hobby chemistry sets, photographic chemicals, swimming pool chlorine, hot tub chemicals, disposable propane cylinders and white gas.

Items not accepted are used motor oil, latex paint, car batteries, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, ammunition, fireworks, bio-hazards and propane tanks.