Contact: Mary Pitcher, Recycling Coordinator
mary@allianceforeconomicsuccess.com
For Immediate Release
Local Governments Consider Participation in
County-wide Recycling Initiative
Manistee, Michigan - Several Manistee County townships have committed to participation in a recycling initiative being lead by the Alliance for Economic Success at the request of the Manistee County. Several other Manistee County municipalities will be considering participation at their September and October meetings.
The Manistee Board of Commissioners adopted PA 69 providing a funding mechanism to local area governments to support recycling programs. In municipalities that choose to participate, residents will pay a $12 annual fee on winter property tax bills in order to fund recycling drop off sites, which will include, leasing of recycling bins, site monitoring and private industry service to transport and process recyclables. Recycling education and encouragement will also be a significant component of the program.
Townships that have voted to date to participate for 2010 include; Cleon, Brown, Springdale, and Marilla.
Recycling drop off locations will be established for residents of participating municipalities. In the first year, materials accepted will include glass, plastic, co-mingled paper, tin and aluminum. The goal is to expand and accept additional items in future years. For $12/year residents will be able to dispose of unlimited amounts of these recyclable materials.
To further support this program, the AES is establishing a Citizenry Recycling Team. This team will assist recycling efforts and help to create expanded opportunities and awareness for recycling. The team will work with AES staff, local governments, and citizens to increase and enhance recycling throughout Manistee County.
Anyone interested in joining the team may contact Mary Pitcher at the Alliance for Economic Success 723-4325 or mary@allianceforeconomicsuccess.com
Benefits of a County-wide Recycling Program include:
- Economies of scale: Efficiencies gained through bulk pricing, shared drop-off sites, etc.
- Resources to offer collection of additional items.
- Maximum convenience of drop-off locations, resulting in greater volumes of material captured from the waste stream and recycled.
- Professional staff to provide technical assistance for best management practices; to monitor drop-off sites; and to educate and encourage recycling.
- Cost savings to residents and municipalities. By increasing recycling volumes, residents and municipalities save money on trash disposal.
Recycling has been consistently identified as a high priority, receiving a number one priority ranking at the Manistee County Regional Summit, as well as being recognized as a priority in the Envision Manistee County survey results of the general population and students. Historically recycling volumes in the County have been low. With the County adoption of PA 69, local governments are provided a means for their residents to participate in a recycling program at a cost of $1.00 per month.