Recycling Stories: Emmet County
How did a county recycling program in a remote rural area become one of the most comprehensive, successful systems in the state and a key asset in the economy of the Tip of the Mitt?
When Emmet County took over recycling from a local nonprofit in the late 1980s, recycling was sorely underdeveloped – as is common in many rural Michigan communities even today. There were just two drop-off sites collecting newspapers in cargo trailers and a building at the county waste transfer station where the paper was baled.
Today, the recycling program has grown to include composting yard and food waste, employs 28 people, supplies materials to dozens of Michigan businesses, and brings in over $650,000 a year from the sale of recyclables. Those dollars flow back out into the regional economy as the operation creates demand for services from vehicle maintenance to equipment repair and construction. And all based on materials which the community would otherwise have paid millions of dollars to bury.
The County Solid Waste Planning process led commissioners to support improving the recycling program, but challenged the new public works director to develop funding for the program, without relying on tax dollars. Funding for Emmet County Recycling (ECR) is based on two simple policies. First, all waste is collected at the county waste transfer station. This “flow control” policy assures adequate material volume for efficient operation and serves the additional critical purpose of protecting competition among waste haulers. Second, a county “tip fee surcharge” is allocated from the waste transfer station revenues to provide funding for basic recycling infrastructure and operations not covered by the sale of recyclables or contracts for services.
To give residents responsibility for the waste they generate, a “pay as you throw” ordinance was also adopted. This requires volume-based pricing for garbage hauling and disposal, rather than a flat rate for unlimited disposal which has been proven to encourage wasting more.
Along the way, local and state governments have provided a couple of key boosts: The first building was partially funded by a state grant. And a 2-year .025 millage bought Emmet County Recycling bins for the first 10 drop sites, a truck to haul them, and processing equipment for sorting and baling.
The result of those investments and policies have been dramatic: Three other counties – Cheboygan, Otsego, and Presque Isle – now contract with Emmet County Recycling for sorting and marketing services. This achieves great economies of scale for all involved. Together, they generate roughly 15,000 tons of recyclables a year. In 2016, they saved an estimated $1,740,000 in landfill costs. In addition to households, hundreds of Emmet County businesses benefit by being able to recycle their waste materials, including Circuit Controls Corporation, which has achieved “Zero Waste” status.
Perhaps the greatest testament to the success of the program, though, is the amazing community support it receives. Over 80% of Emmet County households use the recycling program, which achieved a 42% recycling rate in 2015.