Residential Recycling

Contact: Matt Flechter, Recycling/Composting Coordinator (517) 373-8422

Recycling is an easy, positive step residents can take to help the environment and reduce waste costs.  Most communities in Michigan offer curbside and drop off opportunities for recycling common household items such as paper, plastic, metals and glass.  Some communities offer special events for collecting and recycling electronics, tires, and more.  Look for opportunities in your community (www.michigan.gov/deqreswastecontacts)

Many of the following sites are neither endorsed nor supported by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. This list is provided to help you find more information about recycling, composting and household hazardous waste management and provide you general information about what you can do to protect Michigan's natural resources and your environment. 

GENERAL RECYCLING INFORMATION 

• Earth 911 
• Hazardous Waste Management and Recycling, A Michigan Department of Community Health fact sheet 
• OurEarth.org   
• Recycling Symbols  

• U.S. EPA Volume to Weight Conversion Table for Collected Recyclables 

• Bottle Bill Information 
• Bottled vs. Tap Water, Responsibile Purchasing Network 
• License Plates 
• Electronics 
• Reducing Unwanted Mailings 
• Reducing Water Bottle Waste, Responsible Purchasing Network 
• Shopping Bags - The Use Less Stuff Report published this Life Cycle Analysis in June 2007 comparing the environmental costs and benedits of a variety of shopping bags. 
• Water Bottles   

OUTDOOR BURNING RESOURCES 

• SEAGRANT Learn Not to Burn Toolkit 

TOOLS 

• Recycling Training Events and Conferences 
• NERC Calculator 
• EPA Calculator 

OTHER MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL SITES OF INTEREST TO RESIDENTS 

• DNR Wildlife & Habitat 
• Environmental Education 
• Watershed Information