Michigan Recycling Initiatives
Michigan has a statewide goal of tripling its current recycling rate from 15 percent to 45 percent.
To achieve this goal, five priority initiatives have been established: revising Part 115 solid waste laws, launching the Re:Source Market Development initiative, having state office buildings leading by example in recycling, developing a statewide Education and Engagement Campaign, and obtaining funding for recycling and solid waste management.
While the Department has received other additional recommendations to increase recycling in Michigan, these five priorities will be focused on first in order to best further our state in meeting its recycling and materials management goals.
Subscribe to our Solid Waste Laws Amendments GovDelivery list
Solid Waste Laws Revision
The Governor’s Recycling Council and Solid Waste and Sustainability Advisory Panel developed recommendations to increase the recycling rate and update Michigan’s solid waste laws. The current laws are relatively silent on promoting materials management options other than disposal. The recommended changes shift the focus to seeing solid waste as a resource that promotes economic vitality, ecological integrity, and improved quality of life by ensuring recycling access for all Michigan citizens, revitalizing the materials management planning process, creating a level playing field for materials management facilities, and more. These recommendations also promote Michigan’s goal of tripling the recycling rate. 
Resources
- 2021 Part 115 Amendments
- 2019 Part 115 Amendments Draft 1
- Draft Siting Process Flowchart
- Current Siting Process Flowchart
- Materials Management Planning - Introduced Legislation
- Materials Management Planning - Agencies and Duties
- Materials Management Plan Approval Process
- Composting and Organics Management 2-Pager
- Calculating a Recycling Rate 2-Pager
- Solid Waste Laws Listserv
- 2021 SWRA Members
- SWSAP Report
- GRC Report
- Solid Waste Policy
- FAQs
- SWSAP GRC Summary
