Blog Posts

Did you know that yard waste, like leaves, trimmings, and branches, used to constitute 24% of Michigan’s waste stream? When these materials break down, they release methane into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. In 1995, the Michigan legislature took action against this issue, banning landfills from accepting yard waste. Luckily, yard trimmings can be…

Sustainably managing a business’s materials can be challenging. When investing in recycling, business owners may ask: “How should I prepare my materials? How should I train my employees to recycle? What should I do with my more complex waste streams, like e-waste?”  Luckily, many organizations—from nonprofits to large construction firms—have had these questions answered by…

New legislative trends and sustainable practices are constantly changing the way we use everyday materials. Businesses are finding value in repurposed metals, plastics, and fibers once thought of as waste. Amid this shift, communities and businesses turn to experts like HDR, a global consulting firm with over 180 Michigan-based employees. HDR specializes in engineering, environmental,…

Recycle, MI partner Michigan Consulting & Environmental, headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, helps various groups find cost-effective solutions that effectively transform waste into resources. Many communities and businesses may not have access to the resources or expertise to manage materials sustainably. Even those already entrenched in recycling and composting can always use some extra guidance from…

Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority (SOCRRA) provides waste management, recycling, and yard waste collection services for 12 communities in Southeast Oakland County–including Berkley, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, and Troy. With a service area over 75 square miles, SOCRRA serves nearly 300,000 households and hundreds of local businesses. SOCRRA is a municipal authority that was…

In our last post about Haworth, we told the story about their recycling center at their Holland, MI headquarters, a nearly 20,000-square foot facility that handles metal, cardboard, plastics, and other material generated in their office and on the factory floor. But what happens to the furniture they manufacture once it reaches the end of…

Meijer is one of the biggest retailers in the state of Michigan and they are committed to continual improvement through environmental-focused innovations that benefit its customers and our communities. In fact, they’re closer than ever to hitting their goal of diverting 70% of generated waste from landfills. Mike Gray and Erik Petrovskis, sustainability professionals at…

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…

For manufacturers, using recycled glass just makes sense. It’s easy to find—thanks to bottle redemption programs in ten states—and it saves money. Sibelco, formerly Strategic Materials, Inc. (SMI), one of North America’s biggest glass recyclers, reports that using recycled glass cuts energy use by about 15% compared to making glass from scratch. This means that…

Technology evolves rapidly, leaving many of us wondering what to do with outdated hardware like computers and storage devices. For individuals and businesses in Southwest Michigan, Green Earth, a new Recycle MI partner, offers a safe and sustainable solution for recycling electronic waste. With over 15 years in business, Green Earth is led by owner…