OC Department of Public Health

01/22/2026

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can happen when you use a space heater. CO is dangerous because it blocks your body from taking in the oxygen it needs. You can't see, taste, or smell CO, but it can cause serious illness or death in just minutes. Babies, pregnant women, older adults, people with heart or lung disease, and people with anemia are at a higher risk for problems with CO poisoning. Follow Ottawa County Emergency Management to stay updated on the weather and for more safety tips.

Cold temperatures are settling in across Ottawa County, and many households are using space heaters to stay warm. Space heaters can help, but only when they are used safely.

Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including furniture, curtains, bedding, and clothing. Never place a heater in a doorway or hallway where it could be knocked over or block an exit.

Only use space heaters that have automatic shut off features and tip over protection. Always plug heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use extension cords or power strips.

Turn space heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Never leave a heater running unattended.

Make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly. Test them today and replace batteries if needed.

Staying warm is important, but staying safe matters just as much. Please share this message to help keep our community safe during this cold spell.

01/20/2026

We are continuing to address weather-related issues at our Coopersville Sustainability Center. With the additional snow predicted overnight, we are making the decision to close the Center again tomorrow. We will update this page as soon as the Center can reopen. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this interruption in service may cause.

01/19/2026

Our Coopersville Sustainability Center will be closed for the rest of the afternoon due to weather. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

01/15/2026

HEALTH ALERT: Dangerous Supplements - Stop Using Now

Some dietary supplements sold as "tejocote root" or "Brazil seed" contain a poisonous plant. These products are still available online.

If you have these products:

1. Stop using them immediately
2. Throw them away
3. Call your doctor right away - even if you haven't used them recently

If you feel sick after taking these supplements:

-Call 9-1-1 for emergency help
-Or call Michigan Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 (available 24/7)

Where these products are sold: Online at Amazon, eBay, Etsy, TikTok, and other websites

Why this is serious: Yellow oleander is a poisonous plant that can harm your heart, stomach, and nervous system. It can be deadly.

See the full product list: bit.ly/4qHAS1n

12/10/2025

Our Coopersville Environmental Sustainability site is closed today due to the weather. The Grand Haven site is open.

11/26/2025

Traveling with baby this holiday season?

As you head out to celebrate with loved ones, remember that safe sleep goes with you! Here are key reminders for travel:

✅ Plan ahead: Arrange for a safe sleep space at hotels and your destination. If a hotel provides a crib, confirm it meets current safety standards.

💤 Keep it simple: Baby needs a firm, flat surface with a fitted sheet only—no blankets, bumpers, or soft toys in the sleep area. Use a wearable blanket instead.

💬 Share current guidelines: Safe sleep recommendations have evolved over the years—share updates with grandparents and other caregivers.

Learn more at Michigan.gov/SafeSleep

11/25/2025

Gathering with loved ones this week? Johns Hopkins shares helpful tips for reducing the spread of respiratory illness during holiday celebrations.

11/24/2025

Thawing your turkey? Here's a quick refresher with three safe thawing methods:

🧊 Refrigerator Method (safest): Allow 1 day for every 4-5 pounds.

💧 Cold Water Method: Keep turkey in original wrapping, submerge in cold water, and change the water every 30 minutes. Allow 30 minutes of thawing time per pound.

⚡ Microwave Method: Check your microwave manual for size limits. Allow about 6 minutes per pound and rotate frequently.

Don't thaw your turkey on the counter, in the garage or on the back porch, in a paper or plastic bag, or in the dishwasher—these methods aren't safe!

If your turkey is still frozen on Thursday morning, you can cook it frozen. It will take longer— add an extra 2 hours for every 4 hours of cook time.

Learn more about safe thawing, proper cooking, and how to store and use leftovers at fightbac.org/winter/talking-turkey.

11/05/2025

If you or someone you know relies on SNAP to stretch their food dollars, please share this important information about extra support from Double Up Food Bucks Michigan, good now through December 31.

Important News for SNAP + Double Up Shoppers in Michigan: Starting November 1, you can receive $40 in Bonus Bucks to spend on fresh or frozen fruits & veggies. No extra SNAP purchase needed!

💳 If you shop with the Double Up card, $40 will automatically be added to your account.

💰 If you shop with Double Up tokens or coupons, show your Michigan Bridge Card at checkout at participating Double Up locations and you can receive $40 in printed vouchers.

PLEASE NOTE: There is a limit of one per customer while supplies last.

👉 Learn more and please SHARE this post: doubleupfoodbucks.org/bonus-bucks/

10/30/2025

We're expanding our hours again!

We know we've only recently made changes to operating hours at our Environmental Sustainability Centers. We appreciate your patience as we work to find hours that serve the community best while ensuring safe operations and managing visitor flow at the sites. Starting MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, we're implementing new expanded hours to better serve you and improve safety at all four locations.

📍 Holland (14053 Quincy St.): Tuesday & Thursday, 8am-2pm
📍 Grand Haven (16850 Comstock): Monday & Wednesday, 8am-2pm, and 3rd Saturday of the month, 8am-11am
📍 Georgetown (6693 Roger Dr.): Tuesday & Thursday, 8am-2pm, and 1st Saturday of the month, 8am-11am
📍 Coopersville (15600 68th Ave.): Monday, 12pm-4pm & Wednesday, 8am-12pm

These expanded hours will help reduce wait times and spread out traffic throughout the week. Weekend access alternates between our northwest (Grand Haven) and southeast (Georgetown) locations for regional convenience.

New to our recycling centers? Watch our video to see the recycling and composting services available to help you care for the places you live, work, learn, and play!

If you have questions, call us at (616) 393-5645 or visit miottawa.org/recycle.

09/19/2025

🌱 Environmental Sustainability Center Hours Update 🌱

Starting Monday, September 22, our Environmental Sustainability Center schedules are changing!

NEW WEEKDAY SCHEDULE:
📍 Monday - Coopersville (9 AM - 5 PM)
📍 Tuesday - Georgetown (9 AM - 5 PM)
📍 Wednesday - Grand Haven (9 AM - 5 PM)
📍 Thursday - Holland (9 AM - 5 PM)
Note: All locations are closed from 1-2 PM

SATURDAY HOURS (8 AM - 12 PM):
🗓️ 1st Saturday - Georgetown
🗓️ 2nd Saturday - Holland
🗓️ 3rd Saturday - Coopersville
🗓️ 4th Saturday - Grand Haven

Visit miottawa.org/recycle for information on the centers, memberships, and more. Or give us a call at (616) 393-5780. We're here to help you with all your environmental sustainability needs!

09/18/2025

⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE ⚠️

We will NOT be accepting water samples tomorrow, September 19, due to our laboratory vendor being unavailable for pickup.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Water sample collection will resume on Monday, September 22 during our normal business hours.

If you have questions about water testing, please contact us at (616) 393-5645 or visit our website at miottawa.org/well-septic.