Biz Aid

In the Southern Michigan town of Coldwater, Samantha Buterbaugh and her small team of employees and volunteers sort and recycle a comprehensive array of materials. From bottles, cans, cardboard, plastic containers, to even electronics and plastic film, Biz Aid is a crucial resource for local residents and businesses, serving as a drop-off hub for waste diversion.

We last connected with Sam in March 2020, and since then, she has continued to grow the Biz Aid drop-off center, expanding its impact through even larger recycling initiatives. A major strategy for scaling the facility has been the acceptance of new materials, most recently, plastic film. Commonly found in items like grocery bags and packaging, plastic film is typically excluded from curbside recycling because it can clog sorting equipment. However, drop-off centers like Biz Aid make it possible for individuals and businesses to recycle these materials by accepting them pre-sorted. Recently, Sam processed and compacted several thousand pounds of plastic film from a clean energy construction project. These compressed bales were then sold to manufacturers and processors to be transformed into new products.

When she’s not running Biz Aid, Sam dedicates her time to helping local schools reduce waste. As a volunteer coordinator for the Green Schools program in Branch and Hillsdale counties, she leads efforts to collect food scraps for a local composting program while teaching students about organics recycling. She knows firsthand that changing adults’ recycling habits can be challenging, as they’re often set in their ways. By educating children early, she helps instill strong recycling and composting habits that can last a lifetime.

What’s next for Biz Aid? Sam is eager to put her newly acquired box truck to use, allowing her to collect materials from small businesses and multi-family housing units. She also hopes to see increased investment in recycling education from state and local governments, helping to support her efforts and inspire more people across South Michigan to embrace recycling.