What Can Be Safely Released Into A Sewer?

Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA) is responsible for maintaining over 300 miles of sanitary sewers. A sanitary sewer is a separate underground system that is specifically designed for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to our wastewater treatment plant. The YCUA collection system is not intended to convey storm water runoff from parking lots, roads, or homes. The improper release of materials into the sanitary sewer can cause serious damage to your private drainage system. The improper release of materials into the sanitary sewer can also adversely impact the environment as a result of a sewage backup or interfere with the proper operation of the YCUA collection system and/or wastewater treatment plant. Although the YCUA has various programs for maintaining these systems, we view our customers as the first line of defense when protecting these vital infrastructures within our community.

The following information can help everyone within our community make better decisions when disposing of various materials.

flushYCUA requests that the following items not be released into the sewer system:
  • Fats, oils, and greases from cooking
  • Baby wipes and diapers
  • Rags, towels, sponges, or napkins
  • Egg shells, coffee grinds, or food wrappers
  • Produce stickers
  • Cotton swabs or feminine hygiene products
  • Syringes
  • Toys
  • Rubber or plastic products
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Kitty litter
  • Hair
  • Undergarments
These types of items can be safely disposed of with your household solid waste. For more information regarding household solid waste collection, click on the appropriate link below:

Residents of Ypsilanti Township: www.ypsitownship.org
Residents of the City of Ypsilanti: www.cityofypsilanti.com

The following products should not be released into the sewer system and are not accepted through our community’s solid waste collection:
  • Oil-based products such as transmission fluids, motor oils, or non-latex based paints
  • Antifreeze
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
Please refer to the sections below on proper disposal options for these products:

Oil-Based Products
If you are one of our many residents that change their change their own automotive oils (crankcase, transmission, filters, etc.), you need to know how to properly dispose of the waste products generated when completing these tasks. The YCUA prohibits the disposal of oil based products into the sanitary sewer. Used oil is accepted at the following locations:
  • Home Toxics Center of Washtenaw County, 705 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Phone: 734-222-6860.
  • Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station, 2950 East Ellsworth, Phone: 734-971-7400.
  • Many of our local auto parts stores and service stations, please contact one near you.
  • To find more recycling centers near you, please call 1-800-Cleanup or visit the Earth911 webpage to search for specific recycling facilities in your zip code.
Antifreeze
If you are one of our residents that flush their own automotive radiator system, the used antifreeze should not be disposed in the sanitary sewer. The following locations accept used antifreeze:
  • Home Toxics Center of Washtenaw County, 705 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Phone: 734-222-6860.
  • Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station, 2950 East Ellsworth, Phone: 734-971-7400.
  • To find more recycling centers near you, please call 1-800-Cleanup or visit the Earth911 webpage to search for specific recycling facilities in your zip code.
Pharmaceuticals (courtesy of Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner’s Office)
Past practices have advised to “flush” leftover drugs down the toilet. Human excretion is also a source of the drugs being detected. We now know that wastewater treatment plants were not designed to filter out drugs, so many drugs and other compounds are being detected in drinking water. The effects of most of these products detected in drinking water are unknown, but increased concentrations of antibiotics have produced “super bugs”; bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. There are no national guidelines for the proper disposal of PPCPs, but there are some guidelines that you can use that offer safe disposal methods to protect water quality and human health. If you are instructed by your physician to finish a prescription, do so. For any unused portion of the prescription or other health care product, follow the disposal steps for particular types of medications. Always “black out” any personal information on the label to protect privacy but ensure the drug name is visible. At present, there are few, if any, “take back” programs for prescription drugs. Call your pharmacy to confirm information on the disposal of prescription drugs.

Capsules and Tablets in Containers:
      1. Secure the cap on the bottle.
      2. Cover the cap with duct tape, fully sealing the container to prevent breaking or leakage.
      3. Double wrap the sealed containers in opaque plastic bags. Tightly tie or secure the bags with duct tape to prevent leakage and place in the trash.

Blister-Packaged Capsules and Tablets:
      1. Wrap package with several layers of duct tape, allowing visibility of the product name. This will prevent blister packs from breakage.
      2. Double bag the sealed packs in opaque plastic bags. Tightly tie or secure the bags with duct tape to prevent leakage and place in the trash.

Ampules, Vials and Needles:
      1. Do not open or alter the original contents if possible
      2. Call the Washtenaw County 24 hour home toxics hotline 734-222-3950 for information and drop off hours at 705 North Zeeb Road. Also check the “Turning Trash into Treasure” guide for a pharmacy drop off location near you.
      3. Residents outside Washtenaw County should call their Solid Waste Department or Waste Hauling Services for instruction on proper disposal.

Liquid Pharmaceuticals:
    1. Seal the contained with duct tape to prevent leaks and breakage.
    2. To take the maximum precautions, add salt, a pungent spice like nutmeg or mustard or a bitter tasting additive. Kitty litter, sawdust or an absorbing agent can also be added to the liquid to repel animals.
    3. Double bag the sealed containers in opaque plastic bags. Tightly tie or secure the bag with duct tape to prevent leakage and place in the trash.
All of this information and more can be found at the Washtenaw Water Resources webpage.