Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) is at the forefront of driving sustainable change in Michigan’s recycling landscape. With a focus on organics management and the circular economy, RRS offers tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of its clients, ranging from trade associations to public and private sector entities. In a recent interview, RRS representatives provided…

Kellanova, headquartered in Battle Creek, MI, has been a member of the MRC since 2020. You may not recognize their name, but you’d recognize their iconic brands: Pringles, Cheez-It, Eggo, RX Bar, MorningStar Farms, and more. Kellanova’s legacy was built over the previous 117 years as Kellogg Company. The company’s Better Days Promise is a commitment to advance sustainable…

Midland Recyclers is a nonprofit recycling center started in 1987. As the organization celebrates its 37th year, it continues to make significant strides in promoting recycling, educating the public, and fostering partnerships with businesses and the community. Midland Recyclers operates a self-serve drop-off recycling center located at the Midland landfill. With a mission to educate…

Most people are aware that recyclable materials are collected from households across the state, processed at a local material recovery facility, and then sent to a manufacturer who makes it into a new product. What many people don’t know is how the logistics are managed between collecting, selling and processing. That’s where Metro Recycling Solutions…

Goodwill Green Works, a subsidiary of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, stands as a testament to the power of recycling efforts coupled with a commitment to providing opportunities for individuals facing employment challenges. With over 80 years of experience under their belt, Goodwill Green Works has evolved into a leader in recycling innovation, environmental impact,…

Kent County DPW, operates as an enterprise fund within Kent County government, showcasing a unique model for operating as an independent business unit. They play a crucial role in managing waste while promoting recycling and sustainable waste disposal within the county. Their partnership with the Recycle, MI campaign demonstrates their commitment to making a positive…

The city of Grand Rapids operates a recycling program for the second largest municipality in Michigan with a fleet of carts, both 96-gallon and 64-gallon, totaling an impressive 55,000 carts distributed throughout the city. The organization has embraced the single-stream recycling approach since 2010, simplifying the recycling process for residents by allowing them to place…

The Van Buren Conservation District is an independent unit of local government whose mission is to promote the conservation of natural resources through partnerships, providing public education, demonstrations, and technical assistance while working together for future generations. They have coordinated recycling in Van Buren County since 2011, expanding education and outreach as well as hosting…

Schupan is a family owned sustainable materials management company that has emerged as a leader in the recycling industry. With a commitment to environmental stewardship, the organization offers comprehensive support services for various recyclable materials, including ferrous and nonferrous metals, electronics, and beverage containers. Schupan is renowned as the largest marketer and processor of used…

The Grand Traverse County Resource Recovery Department/RecycleSmart program is dedicated to promoting waste management and recycling efforts in the Grand Traverse County area. RecycleSmart works in collaboration with waste haulers to ensure that all residents and businesses in the county have access to waste and recycling options. RecycleSmart’s primary focus is on accomplishing county-wide curbside…

Emmet County Recycling, established in 1990, is dedicated to waste diversion and innovative material management that is both cost-effective and convenient. Their comprehensive recycling efforts include operating a transfer station, 12 recycling drop sites, a materials recovery facility (MRF), a recycling drop-off center, curbside and commercial recycling collections, zero waste event recycling, a compost facility,…

Organicycle is a company set on keeping organic food waste out of landfills and returning those important minerals to Michigan soil. The 13-year-old company diverted 5 million pounds of organic waste in 2022 alone. Started by Bridget and Dan Tietema, Organicycle began while Bridget was a teacher and started questioning where the school’s food waste…

Recycling can start anywhere, and for Berrien County they pay close attention to where they can improve recycling. Local municipalities do offer curbside recycling in the area, but the parks department takes it one step further and helps to provide recycling for items not taken at the curb. They do this by hosting six collection events…

EFS Plastics is a 100% post-consumer plastic recycler that specializes in recycling mixed rigid plastics, plastic film or bags, and HDPE bottles, tubs, and lids. EFS, which stands for Environmentally Friendly Solutions, recycle these items into high-quality resins which can replace virgin plastics when purchased by manufacturers to make new products and packaging.  The company…

Dr. Shrink, Inc. is a full-service, full-circle supplier of premium shrink-wrap and all installation supplies and accessories. Dr. Shrink, Inc. strives to anticipate and innovate all of their products and services to meet the needs of current and future customers. Dr. Shrink saw a need for more productive uses for the premium plastics they sold…

The Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority (MCSWMA) is owned by the municipalities of Marquette County. The Authority is supervised by an appointed Board of Trustees, and overseen by the Authority Director. MCSWMA offers many recycling and waste disposal services to Marquette County residents including drop-off recycling, household hazardous waste collections, and organics processing.  In…

 Lenawee County’s recycling drop-off site has been the place residents in the county can take plastics #1-7, glass (colored or clear), tin cans, aluminum, cardboard, and paper products for recycling since 2012. The Lenawee County Solid Waste Program also coordinates community collection events to clean up scrap tires, electronics, polystyrene foam, batteries, household hazardous waste,…

Washtenaw County’s Solid Waste Division works to provide comprehensive services to its residents as well as acts as a clearinghouse for information on everything from backyard composting to zero waste events. According to Theo Eggermont, Director of Public Works, the purpose of their program “is to achieve the Solid Waste Plan goals which boils down…

Goodwill Industries has a rich tradition in reuse and providing work opportunities. It was founded in 1902 by Reverend Edgar J. Helms who collected used clothing and household goods which were mended and fixed by locals he hired. The donated goods were then resold, and the money raised was used to pay the workers who…

Recycling in Michigan would be much harder without all the hard work everyone does in our Michigan communities. The Eaton County Department of Resource Recovery is one of our members that is a great example of all the hard work that is being done to help recycling. The Eaton County Department of Resource Recovery (ECDRR)…

In 1978, Recycle Ann Arbor (RAA) founded the first curbside recycling program in Michigan. Over the years, the program has seen significant growth, with the development of a curbside program, recovery yard, A2 Area Reuse network, and drop-off center. In 2021 they diverted 15699 tons of waste from being landfilled and opened their zero-waste Material…

The City of East Lansing was one of the first municipalities in the state to offer recycling services to its residents. Since its implementation, the City’s program has steadily grown to provide convenient programs for yard waste, holiday waste, hard to recycle items, and more. Waste collection programs are administered by the City’s Department of…

Dart has been an industry leader in recycling for more than 30 years. They’re taking responsibility for the environmental effects of giving people the freedom to enjoy their food & drinks on the go. The most important part of their program is that it’s a sincere, holistic, and strategic based approach on a robust commitment…

Meridian Township may not be the largest community in mid-Michigan, but that has not stopped them from keeping tons of recyclables out of the landfill. This community has two regional recycling events each year, one of which made it into the Guinness Book of World Records (for electronics). Success in recycling is largely due to…

Kalamazoo may be known for an abundance of breweries, but the recycling services the City provides for its residence is equally impressive. The city began offering a curbside recycling program in the 1980s through an “opt-in” program that has now expanded to include 75% of households citywide!  Kalamazoo provides more than just curbside pickup for…

Most areas that have a large amount of residents interested in recycling work hard to focus on getting a curbside program, but Calhoun County doesn’t let that stop them from contributing in the meantime. When it comes to recycling in Calhoun County, these residents take great community pride in supporting local businesses, so when their…

When there are only 17,000 residents in a County, you have to constantly be working to try and keep people involved in recycling. Last year 1,009 tons of single stream recyclables were collected from this rural area. Benzie County has been extremely successful with this and along the way, they have come up with some…

Meijer operates under the philosophy that to be a good company, they must be a good neighbor. Through environmental stewardship, they strive to protect clean water, air, and land for the people and communities they serve. Meijer also pursues eco-friendly initiatives in order to benefit customers and reduce environmental impact.  All Meijer distribution centers and…

The Kroger Company became a Recycle, MI Partner in 2020 and we are glad to have their support. Kroger promotes sustainability initiatives through their Zero Hunger/Zero Waste social impact plan. The plan aims to “end hunger in the places we call home and eliminate waste across our company by 2025.”  One program that Kroger is…

Most people are aware that recyclable materials are collected from households across the state, processed at a local material recovery facility, and then sent to a manufacturer who makes it into a new product. What many people don’t know is that there is often another step in the process that is important – that of…

Pratt Industries has been America’s leading recycled paper and packaging company for over 25 years – dedicated to the sustainability of the planet, their customers, and their people, and is recognized around the world for its environmental stewardship.  Sustainability has always been the cornerstone of Pratt’s culture. Pratt Industries, which was born into a family…

Making recycling simple and saving money on waste services is the goal that Biz Aid, LLC Recycling likes to keep in mind. Biz Aid, LLC was started in Coldwater, Michigan by Samantha Buterbaugh when she was 26 years old. At the time she didn’t even want to touch the cardboard, but now with endless possibilities,…