Michigan Recycling Coalition

Policies like Extended Producer Responsibility and the Landfill Tip Fee Surcharge are garnering lawmakers’ attention and creating conversation at Michigan’s capital. The Michigan Recycling Coalition invites you to join us on Capitol Avenue to discuss how these pieces of legislation would impact Michigan’s circular economy. Attend Fall Into Recycling on December 5 from 10 AM - 3 PM to gain insight into your role in policy development and county planning now and into the future. Scan the QR code to register, or click here: https://lnkd.in/gNAZquiY

Did you know WM has three recycling centers in Michigan? Each month, WM processes nearly 4,000 tons of recyclables, serving more than 400,000 customers in this state across industrial, residential, and commercial sectors.?? ? To further drive recycling in Michigan, WM has planned an approximately $50 million investment in a state-of-the-art single-stream recycling facility in Detroit. This new center will not only enhance WM's recycling services but also provide valuable educational opportunities and increase opportunities for sustainability in Michigan’s manufacturing sector.? ? Not only are MRC Recycling Allies featured within tailored social media posts–they’re also tagged alongside certain sustainability and recycling focused messages. Join the MRC Recycling Alliance to show Michigan residents that your organization is committed to material?sustainability. Learn more:?https://lnkd.in/g9uuSmTy

Happy Veteran’s Day! Thank you to the many Veterans making recycling work in Michigan. Adam Machelski, pictured here, served in the Army from 2011 to 2022 and now works for Emmet County Recycling (DPW), driving the curbside recycling and food scraps pick-up truck to help county residents incorporate sustainability into their everyday lives. Know any other Veterans who work in recycling? Tag and recognize them below!

In 2023, Michigan’s recycling rate was up to a record high 23%. According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Michiganders recycled over 330,000 tons of paper products, which equals the weight of about 66,000 male African elephants! In total, Michiganders recycled around 703,000 tons of paper, metals, glass, and plastics. Read more about residential recycling data here: https://lnkd.in/gzqZyrWv Our Recycling Allies Kroger, Meijer, Duro-Last, Schupan, and Metro Recycling Solutions are instrumental to the MRC’s work advocating for equal recycling access and the development of recycling markets to ensure that our recycling rates grow. Learn more about becoming an MRC member or Ally: https://lnkd.in/g_-W7J2F

From drop-off centers to electronics reuse and recycling, the winners of the NextCycle Fall Showcase pitch competition presented a diverse range of circularity-focused innovations and ideas that will help make Michigan communities more sustainable and equitable. Two winners secured prizes based on their proposals to build new drop-off recycling centers. The City of Holland secured both the Best in Show and the MRC sponsored People’s Choice for the Intergovernmental Initiatives and Public-Private Partnerships (I2P3) track to fund a drop-off center that will accept hard-to-recycle materials like mattresses and electronics. Resourceful Recycling was chosen by the crowd to win the People’s Choice award for the Recycling Supply Chain (RSC) track. This organization aims to build Shiawassee County’s first drop-off center that would be open 24/7, 365 days a year. The other two showcase winners aim to tackle e-waste. Veolectra, an electric vehicle design and engineering firm, secured the RSC Best in Show prize for their innovative portable generator model that intercepts end-of-life, still usable EV batteries. The Hendrick's Foundation won the Community Impact Award for their unique work combining e-waste diversion and computer repair classes for Detroit students. All teams received a $5,000 Harvest Grant from EGLE to further support their innovations. Congratulations to all of the Fall Showcase teams! I2P3 Track Participants: City of Holland - https://lnkd.in/guBEJ2vU Rogers City - https://lnkd.in/gfrfSwsc Iosco County - https://lnkd.in/gfrfSwsc City of Bay City, Michigan - https://lnkd.in/g4AE-jCb City of Grand Rapids - https://lnkd.in/gu2iMWXU... City of Royal Oak, MI- https://lnkd.in/gfQyVp4D Huron-Clinton Metroparks - https://lnkd.in/gf2fZ_F3 RSC Track Participants: HENDRICKS FOUNDATION- https://lnkd.in/dRf7Vq_P Resourceful Recycling - https://lnkd.in/gsSgPjUp Veolectra Inc - https://www.veolectra.com/ Let Us REST - https://lnkd.in/gdk3xztu Recycle Ann Arbor - https://lnkd.in/gXnSgJu8 Novak Applied Technologies - https://lnkd.in/gySuRxKZ OkaTerra - https://www.okaterra.com/

Tomorrow - attend an informational meeting for the NextCycle Michigan circular project accelerator (now accepting applications). Learn about the application process, types of projects supported, eligibility and selection criteria. Plus, talk to past teams about their experiences in the program. Ask your questions at the virtual Application Party, Oct 30 at 2pm ET. Register for the meeting today! https://lnkd.in/gRU_66KQ

?According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Michigan’s recycling rate has increased from 14.25% before 2019 to over 23% in 2024! This 8.75% increase is fueled by businesses, communities, individuals, and organizations that work tirelessly to boost recycling access and participation around the state. Dedicated Recycling Allies like Dart Container, Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), and Cascade Cart Solutions are key players helping the Michigan Recycling Coalition and our members grow and expand Michigan’s recycling industry. Learn more about becoming an MRC member or Ally: https://lnkd.in/g_-W7J2F

Over 250 compost enthusiasts attended the 2024 Great Michigan Compost Tour, a week-long series of compost facility tours, talks, and demonstrations that gave Michigan residents the opportunity to explore and learn about compost in their communities. During the week of September 16, twenty composting organizations hosted interactive tours to demonstrate how they create nutritious soil amendments while reducing the amount of organic waste that goes to Michigan landfills. Thanks to the dedicated host facilities and community members who made the third annual Great Michigan Compost Tour successful!

MRC Executive Director, Kerrin O’Brien recently spoke with more than 100 employees of Nemak, a global manufacturer and leading provider of lightweight, aluminum automotive components about the state of the global, interconnected recycling marketplace. Nemak understands the importance of recycling, as 63% of their throughput is recycled aluminum. During her presentation, Kerrin emphasized the importance of well-connected, robust recycling systems that harvest aluminum and other materials for reintroduction into manufacturing. Increasing the supply of aluminum commodities allows Nemak and other companies to continue bringing circularity to the automotive space. Thanks, Nemak, for engaging in thoughtful recycling discussions with the MRC!

This year’s boat shrink wrap recyclers went above and beyond! Over a hundred individuals, marinas, community leaders, and non-profits recycled 2,382 EZ-Fill Recycling Run Bags from Dr. Shrink, Inc. filled with used boat shrink wrap. These recycling efforts helped conserve an abundance of oil, energy, and landfill space that typically would have been used in the manufacturing and disposal of new plastics. Registration for the 2025 program will open in January. Join the Recycle Run mailing list, and we’ll let you know when and how to participate in Michigan’s official boat shrink wrap recycling program: https://lnkd.in/dGR6C-Xk