Van Buren Conservation District

10/23/2026

Fall brings many changes to our landscape, and to invasive species management! As we head towards the colder months, it's time to start planning what invasive shrub work you want to get done this year. To help, we have a pullerbear w**d wrench, a great mechanical option to pull those pesky shrubs up by the roots. Reach out to Alex or Jena at the VBCD to find out more.

Fall brings many changes to our landscape, and to invasive species management! As we head towards the colder months, it's time to start planning what invasive shrub work you want to get done this year. To help, each of our three conservation districts (Berrien County Conservation District , Cass County Conservation District , and Van Buren Conservation District ) has a pullerbear w**d wrench, a great mechanical option to pull those pesky shrubs up by the roots. Reach out to your local conservation district for more details!

10/21/2026

We do not suggest giving these items to children next week, but if you're trying to recycle something, take care of an invasive species, or if you simply have a question about something spooky:

Who ya gonna call? the VBCD!

10/19/2026

🙅 Don’t miss out on your chance to use our year-round tire drop off sites! 🙅

🛞 Year-round tires sites are open to Van Buren County residents and landowners through the end of October. Visit any one of our 10 drop-off stations for free tire recycling!

To use this service, please respect the following rules:
🛞 Passenger and semi tires only
🪪 Bring a valid ID - to show you are a Van Buren County resident or landowner and eligible for the free service
🚫 Businesses cannot participate in this program
🔟 Limit of 10 tires per household per day

Locations include:
Antwerp Township Transfer Station
Arlington Township Waste & Recycling Center
Bangor Township Transfer Station
Bloomingdale Township Transfer Station
Covert Waste & Recycling Center
Columbia Township Transfer Station
Decatur Area Waste & Recycling Center
Keeler Township Transfer Station
Paw Paw Township Waste & Recycling Center (5 tires per visit)
Pine Grove Township Recycle Station

📍 Find your nearest year-round tire drop-off site by visiting the link in our profile or check out location details on our website under “Recycling Services”

10/19/2026

Alex started his journey with the VBCD in 2020 in a winter seasonal role, and then we got to welcome him back full-time in 2021 as the SWxSW (read “Southwest by Southwest”) CISMA Coordinator! In the last five years, Alex has helped increase the invasive species education and management in exciting ways! Our area is a gateway for invasive species because we border another state, have a great variety of habitats, and are a popular tourist destination. Thankfully, Alex sure has a knack for detecting invasive species early, giving us the best chance of managing them!

From Alex about his book recommendation: “For any young person considering a career in science, “Letters to a Young Scientist” By E.O. Wilson offers a great mix of practical advice, personal stories, and encouragement. He makes clear that being a scientist isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. Being a scientist is about being curious, and anyone can be curious. I recommend this book to anyone considering a career in science, especially high school and college aged people.”

10/15/2026

Don’t miss us at the Lawrence Recycle Roundup for your last chance of 2026 for your hazardous waste disposal needs!

Lawrence Recycle Roundup
👥 Van Buren County residents and landowners
📅 Saturday, October 17th, 2026
🕔 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Van Buren ISD Tech Center I 250 South Street, Lawrence MI.

At no-direct cost, you, Van Buren County residents and landowners, can recycle and safely dispose items:
🪫 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) - household chemicals, oil-based paint, batteries, lightbulbs, and more!
📦 Foam (polystyrene, Styrofoam™) - watch our video linked in the comments for acceptable items.
🔌 Electronics
🛞 Tires; Only tires are required to be pre-registered.

❗Bring proof of Van Buren County residency (ID, license) or landownership (tax bill)
❗Tire registration is required at least two-days in advance by calling 269-633-9314 or filling out the form in the link on our profile. Pre-registration optional for all attendees
❗Be sure to watch out for follow-up communication! 💻📞

We can’t wait to see you there!

10/14/2026

October 14th is International E-Waste Day🔌and to celebrate, we are spreading the word about electronics recycling!

Tossing your electronics in the trash means that they go straight to the landfill. This can lead to hazardous chemicals leaching into the environment, and wastes precious materials that can be recycled.

Throughout the year, several electronics recycling events occur across Southwest Michigan including our recycle roundup events, along with free year-round electronics recycling at the following locations:
Lakeview Foundation Community Thrift Shop I Tuesday through Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm
Senior Services of Van Buren County I Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30am-12:00pm

Check out our website www.VanBurenCD.org for more information on electronics recycling including where and what to recycle.

10/11/2026

Lia Will has been a part of the VBCD team as the Administrative Associate since 2021. Lia keeps the team organized and makes sure our events shine! She’s a Master Gardener as well, and as a part of her role, she enjoys serving as a Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum & Gardens board member. Welcoming people into public spaces and sharing ways to make conservation happen at home comes naturally to Lia, so you'll find her at all sorts of our events.

She has this to say about her book of choice, "The Holy Earth" - “Liberty Hyde Bailey, referred to as the Father of American Horticulture, wrote back in 1915 about how much it is our responsibility to take care of the earth and environment beginning with the industrialization age and continuing through time. Even back in 1915, Bailey knew if the inhabitants of the world did not take care of the land, agriculture, animals, and the environment, no one would.”

10/07/2026

🎃Each year, nearly 85% of Halloween costumes end up in landfills, and the process of making new costumes consumes resources, and produces large amounts of pollution.

♻️So this Halloween, save money and be more sustainable by purchasing your costume from your local thrift store!

🧙 From cackling witches to hopping 🦘 kangaroos, thrift stores offer an array of costumes for people of all ages.

Hop on over this October and get thrifting!

10/06/2026

Our staff will mostly be working remotely October 8-15 due to renovations at our office. The office will be closed Monday, October 12 in observance of Indigenous People's Day.

Please make an appointment if you'd like to meet with us during that week. You can message us here or find each person's contact info at

Michigan’s Conservation Districts are “unique” local units of State Government, established to carry out programs for conservation. Conservation Districts utilize county, state, federal and private sector resources to assist people with the wise use and protection of the natural resources on t...