Curious about what the city recycling programs in our area look like? Here’s a quick peek at a few of the programs Central and Southeast Michigan have to offer!

Ann Arbor: Recycle Ann Arbor

From the website: “As a private nonprofit organization, Recycle Ann Arbor is dedicated to providing education and innovative services in the collection, processing and distribution of recyclable materials. Nationally recognized as an established leader in recycling programs, Recycle Ann Arbor has been instrumental in diverting recyclable waste from landfills and reducing pressure on natural resources.”

The origin of the state’s first curbside recycling service, Recycle Ann Arbor also operates the state’s largest community drop-off station, where batteries, compost, paper, and other recyclable items can be traded and processed. A fully-staffed facility open six days a week year-round, the Drop-off Station also holds special events, like free document-shredding sessions. (You can also purchase compost here!)  Another one of Recycle Ann Arbor’s projects, The ReUse Center, accepts donations of household items, building materials, and office supplies for resale. The Environmental House Energy & Green Building Resource Center provides tours, information, and resources regarding green building and design.

Detroit: The Detroit Recycling Program

The Detroit Recycling Program, begun last June, has clear goals for its program:

“To encourage all Detroit residents to reduce, reuse and recycle

Reduce – cut back on materials for disposal; buy products with less packaging; buy only what you need

Reuse – Try to find other acceptable uses for leftover products and items

Recycle – Recycle products or containers if you can”.

The program includes curbside and dropoff recycling programs, through which it collects paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass, plastic, and even household batteries, light bulbs, and Styrofoam. The program’s website also offers extensive information for residents about legal dumping/disposal of solid wastes, building materials, and dead animals, as well as illegal dumping, corporate waste removal, and environmental enforcement. Residents can also check trash and recycling pickup schedules. The Detroit Recycling Center processes materials collected from Detroit and the surrounding southeast Michigan communities. At 63,000 square feet, this facility has plenty of room to manage its “150 tons of recyclables per day for commercial businesses and residential households in southeast Michigan”.

Farmington Hills:

Farmington Hills is a member community of the Recycling Authority. From the website: “The Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC) is an intergovernmental, municipal solid waste authority created in 1989 by the member communities of Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, South Lyon, Southfield, Walled Lake, and Wixom.

Our purpose is establishing and operating solid waste management projects that feature intergovernmental cooperation, economies of scale, and a combination of environmental responsibility and fiscal soundness”.

The Recycling Authority offers curbside pickup and drop off services for a number of different recyclables. Recyclables are processed in the Material Recovery Facility, which can process “up to 300 tons of recyclable material per day from residential curbside recycling programs, commercial and industrial businesses, and items collected from the two recycling drop-offs.”

Royal Oak:

A member community of SOCRRA, a regional recycling and waste organization that handles materials collected at curbside and drop-off, Verde Lifestyles’ home town of Royal Oak provides services for recycling/disposing of solid wastes, building materials, household items, paper, plastic, aluminum, glass, and other recyclable and reusable materials. Residents can also drop off brush, yard waste, old Christmas trees, lead acid batteries, and electronic waste at the designated SOCRRA drop-off center.

How do these programs measure up to your town or city’s?