Recycling Stories: Capital Region Recycling Initiative

By kschalter | June 28, 2018

Recycling has become a valued public service that provides many economic, environmental, and public health benefits to communities and their residents. Several capital area communities, including Lansing and East Lansing, provide comprehensive recycling services and more would like to provide similar services. The Capital Region Recycling Initiative (CRRI) developed out of local government interest in providing cost-effective, universal access to recycling services across the region.

By working together, Mid-Michigan communities aim to:

  1. Reduce confusion by collecting a common set of materials so every household in the region can recycle the same items,
  2. Provide an optimal number of drop-off sites to provide recycling opportunities for rural, sub-rural, multi-family, and commercial populations across the region, and
  3. Provide consistent recycling education to properly inform citizens to participate fully in programs.

By employing best program management practices, capital area communities can pull more recyclable material out of households and businesses and make that material available to local recycling haulers and processors. These communities are talking about the potential of adding more processing capacity in the region by mutually agreeing to use the region’s accumulated recycling volume to drive the infrastructure developments needed to make recycling a regional and community asset. The group is working to attract an investing partner(s) to collaborate with regional stakeholders to build/own/operate a comprehensive transfer station or full scale material recovery facility.

Communities with established recycling services will benefit by adding value to collected materials in the region and avoiding the cost of hauling recyclables to other parts of the state. Communities without established recycling services will benefit from the development of a comprehensive recycling system that provides services in closer proximity with the potential for revenue sharing. Building infrastructure and creating jobs in the tri-county region will benefit everyone. Additionally, improving the system that is already in place through more supportive and collaborative programs, services, and education will have benefits for all area residents.

All governmental units in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties are encouraged to engage in the process, agree to the conditions, and ultimately sign on to the Capital Region Recycling Initiative.