Why Recycle
Why do we recycle?
Recycling has numerous environmental and economic benefits. Additionally, recent changes to state law now require all counties in Michigan to create a plan for sustainable materials management (formerly solid waste plans), including recycling! Click the buttons to learn more about why we recycle in Iosco County.
Recycling Can Help Keep Our Forests and Environment Clean
A countywide recycling program helps keep litter off our land and provides specific areas and events for drop-off, so there are convenient alternatives to littering. This keeps our beautiful Iosco County pristine for fishing, hiking, and other recreational uses. There are several methods to prevent waste from ending up as pollution, and recycling is one of them.
Convenient events to drop off materials like tires, electronics, and hazardous household items help avoid litter and ecological contaimination.
Recycling reduces economic costs of landfilling useful materials and limits the environmental costs of landfilling hazardous materials that pollute air and water.
Iosco County’s recyclables re-enter the supply chain to businesses and manufacturers for products and packaging. This keeps our materials local and out of mounting landfills.
Economic Benefits of Recycling
When you recycle, you help create local jobs and strengthen the economy. Workers at Michigan manufacturers use your recycled materials to make their products and packaging, boosting our economy. See some of the end markets, aka manufacturers of finished products, for recycled materials located right here in Michigan.
The State of Michigan has a 45% recycling goal, and if the goal is met, the recycling, reuse, and recovery industry would total:
Updates to Michigan’s Solid Waste Law
Under amendments to Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), all counties are now required to develop a Materials Management Plan (MMP). That means that counties must describe their plans for collecting, processing, and recovering and/or disposing of materials, including organics, recyclables, and solid waste. Each MMP must include measurable goals for solid waste diversion, which includes recycling. In essence, this legislation requires counties to produce a plan for recycling, including Iosco County!
Looking for more information? Visit EGLE’s webpage on MMPs to read in more detail about the changes to the NREPA and the MMP process.
Iosco County Materials Management Planning Process
Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency, and Oscoda Counties are preparing a join materials management plan and have appointed Alpena County as the Designated Planning Agency. Each county has an appointed representative to the interlocal agreement committee that oversees which roles, responsibilities, and funding that will contribute to the planning process and server all five counties as well. Jamie Carruthers-Soboleski, County Controller/Finance Director, is Iosco County’s representative.
Materials Management Planning committee meetings are open to the public and notices of these meetings will be posted on Alpena County’s website and at 720 W Chisholm Street in Alpena. To read more about the planning process, visit Alpena County’s website below.