Part 175 Recycling Reporting Summary

In response to the Governors Recycling Initiative, EGLE worked with the Michigan Waste and Recycling Association, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and a variety of materials recovery facilities to develop legislation to address the need to measure the amount of material recycled in Michigan. Prior to the initiative, and the recycling reporting law, there was no way for EGLE to collect data to measure Michigan’s recycling rate. Part 175, Recycling Reporting of Act 451, is commonly known as the recycling measurement law. Part 175:

• Defines “recycling”, “recycling establishment”, and “reportable recyclable material.”
• Requires recycling establishments to register annually with EGLE.
• Requires recycling establishments to report, in tons (or approved conversion rate), the amount of reportable recyclable materials that have been received and shipped from their facility.

Recycling reports are to be submitted quarterly or annually and are due forty-five days after the end of the quarter or fiscal year. Reportable recyclable materials include the following materials when separated from household or commercial waste:

• Glass
• Paper and paper products
• Plastic and plastic products
• Metals, ferrous and nonferrous, including white goods
• Textiles
• Single stream recycling materials

Items exempted from required recycling reporting include:

• Iron, steel or nonferrous metals that are directed to or received by a person subject to the Scrap Metal Regulatory Act
• Materials from the shredding or dismantling of motor vehicles
• Beneficial use by-products as defined under Part 115, Solid Waste Management of Act 451
• E-waste subject to Part 173, Electronic Equipment, of Act 451

Establishments that recycle less than 100 tons per year or are drop-off locations are also not required to report.

Reports may contain aggregated data from multiple entities as long as those entities are named. EGLE may establish reporting guidelines to minimize double counting. EGLE may also aggregate the data submitted to establish statewide recycling numbers. Reported recycler data is confidential and protected from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. EGLE encourages entities not required to report to do so voluntarily.

EGLE will post reported amounts on-line annually and provide an annual report of reported volumes to the legislature.