While most in the Upper Peninsula will think of Saturday as the opening of firearm deer season, it has another designation as well this year: America Recycles Day in Michigan.

In making the proclamation, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pointed to data that show the state’s recycling rate is at an all-time high for the fourth consecutive year, “putting Michigan on track to achieve the state’s 30% recycling goal by 2029,” the proclamation states.

“Participating in America Recycles Day … is one way Michigan businesses and residents can help raise awareness about the need to reduce waste through sustainable materials management by reusing, recycling, composting, and buying recycled-content products,” Whitmer says in the proclamation.

“Michigan leaders can use this as an opportunity to spread the word about Michigan’s successful recycling programs, the growth of markets for recycled materials, and the importance of working to expand recycling opportunities to more businesses and communities,” according to a news release on the proclamation.

The America Recycles Day celebration aligns with recycling goals in the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s mission to protect the environment and public health. EGLE continues to fund infrastructure and provide technical support for projects that increase access to and awareness of recycling services throughout Michigan, including the national award-winning “Know It Before You Throw It” education campaign featuring the Recycling Raccoon Squad.

“Michiganders are recycling more now than ever before in our state’s history,” Matt Flechter, a recycling market development specialist for EGLE, says in the news release. “Celebrating America Recycles Day in Michigan can help us continue to increase recycling in the state and highlight how all Michigan residents can help strengthen the economy while contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment.”

EGLE research shows Michigan has steadily increased its recycling rate from 14.25% before 2019 — when Michigan ranked among the nation’s lowest in recycling — to 23% last year and an all-time high rate of more than 25% now. EGLE forecasts that Michigan is on track to achieve the state’s goal of a 30% recycling rate by 2029, according to the news release.

In 2024, Michiganders recycled more than 64,000 tons of glass, 329,000 tons of paper and paper products, and 52,000 tons of plastics and plastic products.

The volume of materials Michiganders recycled in 2024 equals the weight of 10 Mackinac Bridges and would fill the football stadiums of the Detroit Lions, University of Michigan and Michigan State University, as well as the hockey stadium of NCAA men’s reigning national champion Western Michigan University, EGLE states.

EGLE has five recommendations for supporting America Recycles Day in Michigan —

• Get involved in a community cleanup: Clearing away litter keeps harmful waste out of ecosystems and makes public spaces more inviting. Donating three or four hours of time to pick up trash with like-minded people is a great way to connect with others who care about the planet and build lasting bonds as you work toward a common goal.

• Take the plastic-free challenge – and think bigger: Try going plastic-free for a day, a weekend or even a week. Bring reusable bags, bottles and containers. You might be surprised how easy it is to make small changes-and how much plastic can be easily removed from daily habits. But going plastic-free isn’t just about personal choices. It’s also about supporting innovation. In Michigan, programs like NextCycle Michigan are helping entrepreneurs and startups turn plastic waste into opportunity-creating new products, new businesses, and new jobs. Recycling and reuse are on pace to support more than 72,500 jobs and generate $17.1 billion in economic output across Michigan.

• Buy recycled – close the loop: Recycling only works if there’s a market for recycled materials. Buying products made with recycled content — such as aluminum cans, newspapers, cereal boxes, glass bottles, jars and steel items — helps drive demand and keep the system going. Supporting these products helps reduce waste, conserve resources and grow Michigan’s economy.

• Educate yourself and others: Learn how recycling improves Michigan’s environment and economy. Find out how following the rules of recycling helps keep material out of Michigan landfills, protecting our environment and conserving valuable resources. By recycling correctly, you can cut your personal carbon footprint and provide clean materials for Michigan manufacturers to use in their products.

• Don’t be shy: Contact local recycling centers and ask how you can get involved, or connect with Keep America Beautiful chapters that may need volunteers for cleanup drives or other events. Getting to know the people who commit daily to uplifting the planet and cleaning up the environment will be a great source of inspiration as well as education.