Recycling Education
Recycling Hotline: (810) 762-7744
or Email our Staff
or Email our Staff
Staff are looking to provide an engaging, hands-on presentation to 3rd through 6th grade students in Genesee County about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling! If you are interested in having this fun activity at your school, please see the following flyer: Recycling Education Guide.
Environmental Facts from the United States Environmental Protection Agency
- If all morning newspapers in the U.S. were recycled for one day, approximately 41,000 trees would be saved and 6 million tons of waste would never end up in the landfill.
- Recycled paper production uses 58% less water compared to virgin paper production.
- Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 7,000 gallons of water.
- Plastics can take up to 400 years to break down in a landfill.
- It takes 5 PETE bottles (water bottles) to make 1 square foot of polyester carpet, an extra large t-shirt or filling for a ski jacket.
- Recycling 1 pound of steel saves enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for over 26 hours
- Select a Recycling Coordinator
- Determine the Waste Stream
- Select a Waste Hauler/Recycler
- Inform Your Team of Volunteers of Their Responsibilities During Event
- Set Up by Making Sure That Recycling Receptacles are Clearly Marked
- Educate Event Participants Using Clear Signage and Directions
- Evaluate
Certain items are prohibited from being disposed on in Michigan landfills. Some of these may surprise you, are you complying with Michigan laws?
Under Michigan law, there are certain household and industrial items that CAN NOT be sent to a landfill and must be recycled or properly disposed of. To make sure that you are in compliance, please download the Landfill Prohibited Materials PDF.
Landfill Prohibited Materials
How Recycling Works
ReCommunity MRF Tour
Children's Educational Resources
Industry Recycling Links