Photograph the route
Show the interior area and the path to the loading point. Include stairs, turns, low ceilings, narrow doors, bulkhead exits, driveways, gates, and parking distance. Note any item that may require disassembly or more than two people.
Make a separate questionable-material list
Keep paint, solvents, pesticides, automotive fluids, gasoline, propane cylinders, batteries, fluorescent lamps, sharps, ammunition, unknown liquids, and suspected asbestos-containing material out of the ordinary removal pile. Do not open, mix, drain, or consolidate unknown products.
Check Macomb County environmental-management information and Michigan EGLE household hazardous-waste guidance. Program eligibility and accepted materials can change.
Flag heavy and specialty items
Safes, cast-iron equipment, engines, tool chests, appliances, freezers, exercise equipment, pool tables, and scrap can affect labor, equipment, and disposal. Refrigerant-containing appliances and electronic waste may have special requirements.
Do not treat unsafe conditions as a normal cleanout
Standing water, sewage, active mold, unstable shelving, fire damage, animal waste, needles, structural damage, or suspected hazardous building material may require a qualified remediation, environmental, or building professional. This guide cannot determine safety from a form or photograph.