A blue recycling bin is shown outside the City of Marquette Municipal Service Center. A total of 6,100 of these blue bins were distributed to each residence for use with the city’s single-stream recycling program. (Journal photo by Dreyma Beronja)

MARQUETTE — Recycling in Michigan is at an all-time high, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

According to an EGLE press release, Michigan’s recycling rate rose from 14.25% prior to 2019, to over 21% based on EGLE’s 2023 analysis.

The total amount of residential recycled materials reported for the fiscal year 2022 was 620,494 tons, over 66,000 tons more than the previous record set the year before.

“We can all be proud that Michiganders are recycling now more than ever before,” EGLE Environmental Justice Public Advocate Regina Strong said in a press release.

EGLE reported that Michiganders recycled over 339,000 tons of paper and paper products, 154,000 tons of metals, 71,000 tons of glass and over 45,000 tons of plastic and plastic products in the 2022 fiscal year.

The amount recycled equates to every person in Michigan recycling 124 pounds last year. Materials that Michiganders recycled last year would fill the football stadiums at Ford Field, Michigan State University’s Spartan Stadium and the Big House at the University of Michigan, according to EGLE.

Other recycling efforts include the ‘Every Bottle Back’ initiative.

According to American Beverage’s press release, American Beverage and Michigan Soft Drink Association announced through the initiative, nine communities across Michigan have received more than $1.5 million in investments to improve recycling infrastructure, enhance recycling programs and increase consumer education.

“The Michigan Soft Drink Association is taking action to improve our state’s recycling rates,” President and CEO of Michigan Soft Drink Association Derek Bajema said in a press release. “By investing in new infrastructure, enhancing our current recyling systems and helping to educate consumers about best recycling practices, we are creating a cleaner enviornment and a more circular economy. Michigan’s soft drink producers and distributors strive to be leaders in sustainability, and these investments are helping us achieve this goal.”

According to the press release, since 2020, the ‘Every Bottle Back’ initiative has invested in the following Upper Peninsula communities to improve collection infrastructure and bring upgraded recycling programs to residents:

≤ Marquette, which received $99,200 in September 2022 to provide residents with new, high-capacity recycling carts to increase the collection of recyclable materials.

≤ Ishpeming, Marquette and Negaunee Townships, which received $68,800 total in April 2021 for new, high-capacity recycling carts and for direct-to-consumer outreach about best recycling practices.

≤ Michigamme Township, which received $8,800 in May 2022 for new recycling carts that allowed the township to start a new curbside collection service.

“Every Bottle Back is making a real difference across Michigan,” Executive Director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition Kerrin O’Brien said in a press release. “It is exactly the type of initiative that’s needed to bridge the gap and make recycling affordable and efficient for Michigan communities.”

Last year, EGLE and The Recycling Partnership rolled out 48,468 new curbside recycling carts to communities around the state.

In Marquette, 6,100 of the 64-gallon recycling carts were distributed to each city residence for use with the city’s single-stream recycling program.

Public Works Director Scott Cambensy said since last year’s addition of rolling recycling carts, the city has gone from collecting roughly 20 tons of solid waste a month to close to 25 tons a month.

“I always say I like to look at a full year than just a couple of months because what happens is around the holidays, everything goes up as far as volumes, and then with vacations and those staying up here for a couple of months for winter,” Cambensy said. “Our overall solid waste rates as far as the volumes goes way down, typically in mid-January to mid-March.”

Cambensy said this summer will be more telling as far as how solid waste rates will pan out. He also noted the importance of recycling which helps with the longevity of the landfill.

“Obviously the less you put in there the longer you can get that landfill to last,” Cambensy said. “If you look even further than that, typically if you can recycle or reuse resources it takes a lot less energy to process those materials than it does actually your raw resources to start from scratch and process that.”

Cambensy said while a lot of recycling mistakes have gone away and are not as common anymore, but they still happen.

Cambensy said one of the common materials the department finds is Styrofoam.

“While Styrofoam can be recycled, it is not something we have the capability of doing in the Upper Peninsula,” Cambensy said.

He said that one of the biggest problems with recycling Styrofoam in the U.P. is having to drive down to the Lansing area, which is the closest area that recycles Styrofoam.

“The problem with that is, you load up this big truck and by the time you burn all the fuel to get back from Lansing, it is probably a losing situation,” Cambensy said. “If you had something local that could use the Styrofoam, that would be a lot different.”

Plastic film and plastic bags are also examples of items that are not able to be recycled in the area.

For those looking to begin their recycling journey, Cambensy said visiting the website recycle906.com will help them learn what items can be recycled and how to recycle or dispose of it.

“That (website) really has cleaned up the messaging is to have one central messaging source, being the county, and then everything kind of operates as a hub and spokes,” Cambensy said. “The messaging is coming out from the county, going to all the contingent municipalities, and hopefully people are hearing all the same messages so when it comes back to that hub in the center, it’s all good material you can use.”

Questions can be directed to the Public Works Department at 906-228-0444 or publicworks@marquettemi.gov.