Tag: Recycling Road Trip

Tulips, beaches, wooden shoes … Holland is known for a lot of things. But one thing the Recycling Raccoon Squad loves the most about Holland is its recycling efforts.

Every day, humans in Holland are supporting the economy, reducing energy use and giving recyclables a second life just by placing recyclables in the curbside cart.

That’s what we enjoyed the most during our recent visit during the Great Recycling Road Trip. We hit the road this summer to celebrate Michigan’s fifth consecutive year achieving its highest recycling rate — 26%!

Holland’s making the difference through education about its local recycling rules.

Paper and Cardboard

• Make sure paper and cardboard materials are bigger than a credit card as smaller items can get stuck in processing.
• Check items for things like Bubble Wrap that are often combined with cardboard and separate them out.

Metal Cans

• A good rule of thumb when recycling metal cans is that they should be larger than a credit card but smaller than a coffee can.
• Paper labels are OK, but any metal cans with plastic labels should have the plastic removed and separated.
• Check to see if the can has an insulated coating as these are not recyclable.

Glass Containers

• Dining glassware, window glass or home decor are not recyclable as they’ll break in the curbside cart.
• Make sure to remove lids before recycling.

Plastics

• If you can poke a hole in the plastic, it’s too flimsy to recycle.
• Remove lids before recycling.

Find these and more tips on our Local Rules website.

Find your local rules

Ya know what a great place to head on a road trip is? The Upper Peninsula! That’s where we headed on our Great Recycling Road Trip this summer. We’re out celebrating Michigan’s fifth consecutive year achieving the state’s highest recycling rates — over 26%!

Michigan recycling …

• Supports over 72,500 jobs.
• Generates $17 billion in revenue.
• Saves more than 800K tons in materials.

Different places have different recycling rules, so it’s important to check out and become familiar with your local rules. Visit our Local Rules website to find the rules where you live.

Some good general rules to keep in mind include:

• Keep recyclables loose in the cart.
• Rinse and dry materials before placing them in the cart.
• Don’t put materials in paper or plastic bags in the cart.
• No food or waste!
• No items that can tangle, like cords.

Keep up the good work, humans!

Find your local rules

Traverse City is known for more than cherries or wine — humans in Traverse City are making a big impact through their recycling efforts. They’re supporting the economy, reducing energy use and giving recyclables a second life just by placing them in the curbside cart.

This work is having a major impact! Michigan just achieved its fifth consecutive year with its highest recycling rate — over 26%. This translates to 72,500 jobs supported, $17 billion in revenue generated and 800K tons of materials saved.

We’re celebrating these achievements with the Great Recycling Road Trip, visiting some of our favorite Michigan cities to see their local recycling impact.

Knowing your local recycling rules makes a huge difference in the state’s overall recycling success. Traverse City has some good tips to make it easier.

Glass

• Do’s: All colors of jars and wine bottles are accepted.
• Don’ts: Light bulbs, mirrors, windows or TVs, computers or monitors.

Metal

• Do’s: Cans, foil and trays are accepted.
• Don’ts: Car parts!

Paper

• Do’s: Cartons, boxboard, mail, newspaper, magazines and pizza boxes are accepted.
• Don’ts: Paper plates, napkins, tissue paper, paper towel, tissues or toilet paper.

Plastic

• Do’s: Detergent bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles and water bottles are accepted.
• Don’ts: Garden hoses, lawn furniture or garden plastics.

Find more local recycling rules for Traverse City on our website!

Find your local rules

We stopped off in Bay City during our Great Recycling Road Trip this summer! We’re celebrating Michigan’s fifth consecutive year achieving its highest recycling rates.

From City Hall to the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum to the Friendship Ring in downtown, humans in Bay City are on a roll with recycling. All that recycling is having some major impact:

• Over 72,500 jobs supported in Michigan.
• $17 billion in revenue generated.
• More than 800K tons in materials saved.
• A record-high recycling rate of 26%.

Bay City has some great tips to help keep these recycling numbers high. These include:

• Don’t overpack the carts! Close lids to reduce litter.
• Oversized and large quantities of cardboard are accepted at the Bay City Recycle Drop-Off Center.
• Use the FREE Re Directory online tool to find info on how to recycle certain materials and request service.
• Schedule an appointment at the Bay City Recycle Drop-Off Center to recycle items like batteries, paint, tires and more!

Find more info on our Local Rules webpage.

Find your local rules

Road triiiiip — the Great Recycling Road Trip that is! The Recycling Raccoon Squad hit the road this summer to visit some of our favorite places in Michigan. One stop along the way was Battle Creek.

We’re celebrating. It’s the fifth consecutive year that Michigan has achieved its highest-yet recycling rate. This year it’s 26%. Every day, humans in Battle Creek support the economy, reduce energy and give materials a second life just by placing their recyclables in the curbside bins.

These efforts look like 72,500 jobs supported in Michigan, $17 billion in revenue generated and more than 800K tons of materials saved.

Battle Creek has some great tips for residents and visitors alike to help keep these recycling numbers high:

• Rinse and dry containers before placing them in the cart.
• Place recyclable materials loose in the cart.
• Don’t place materials in paper or plastic bags in the cart.
• Don’t place plastic bags in the cart.
• Items on top of or beside the cart won’t be picked up.

Find these and more tips on our website!

Find your local rules

We see you, Ann Arbor! Recycling like the champs you are and setting records. Thanks to the efforts of residents and visitors to places like Ann Arbor, Michigan is celebrating its fifth consecutive year of its highest recycling rates — 26% in 2025!

That breaks down to:

• Over 72,500 jobs supported in Michigan.
• $17 billion in revenue generated.
• More than 800K tons in materials saved.

The Recycling Raccoon Squad set out on the Great Recycling Road Trip to visit cities throughout the state. It wouldn’t be a road trip without a stop in Ann Arbor.

We checked out Ann Arbor’s recycling rules while we were there.

• Paper — all colors and types of mixed paper, newspaper and mail.
• Cardboard — empty and flatten cardboard and paperboard.
• Metal — empty and rinse aluminum and steel cans.
• Plastic — empty, rinse and replace the cap for bottles, jars and jugs.
• Glass — empty and dry bottles and jars.

Depending on where you live in the Ann Arbor region, make sure to brush up on any changes in your area.

Find your local rules

Motor City … how about Recycle City?! Cities like Detroit are crushing it, literally, when it comes to recycling. That’s why the Recycling Raccoon Squad set out on the Great Recycling Road Trip.

We’re stopping at cities throughout Michigan to celebrate the state’s fifth consecutive year of the record-high recycling rates.

In 2025, Michigan put up some impressive numbers, thanks to cities like Detroit.

• Over 72,500 jobs supported in Michigan.
• $17 billion in revenue generated.
• More than 800K tons in materials saved.
• A record-high recycling rate of 26%.

It all starts with YOU! Your everyday choices to recycle add up to make the difference. Recycling right at a Tigers baseball game, finding the right receptacle outside the Renaissance Center — know it before you throw it! That’s the Spirit of Detroit.

And that’s why it’s so important to know your area’s recycling rules, to make every decision count. Whether you’re a recycling pro brushing up on the rules or just getting started, help us as we strive for another record recycling year!

Keep up the good work, humans.

Find your local rules

From the State Theatre in downtown Kalamazoo to the Western Michigan University campus, Kalamazoo is doing some major recycling!

Thanks to the efforts of residents and visitors to places like Kalamazoo, Michigan is celebrating its fifth consecutive year of record recycling rates. Just by recycling, people are supporting the economy, reducing energy use and giving materials a second life!

The Recycling Raccoon Squad is celebrating this huge achievement with the Great Recycling Road Trip. We’re visiting some of our favorite spots in Michigan, seeing the sights and brushing up on our local recycling rules.

In hard numbers, that’s 72,500 jobs supported, over 800K tons of materials saved and $17 billion in revenue generated! Those are some major numbers, Michigan.

Whether you live in Kalamazoo or are just visiting, it’s important to brush up on the local recycling rules. Here’s a breakdown:

• Paper, cups and cartons — yes!
• Cardboard and boxboard — yes! Make sure to flatten those boxes.
• Aluminum and metal cans — yes! No food or liquid. Give items a rinse and dry!
• Plastic bottles, tubs and containers — yes! No Styrofoam or plastic bags.
• Glass bottles and jars — yes!
• No cords, hoses or chains.
• No batteries or electronics.

Find more rules for recycling locally in Kalamazoo.

Find your local rules

Hey, Flint! Thanks for celebrating with us on the Great Recycling Road Trip recently. We’re on the road, stopping at some of our favorite Michigan cities. Why? To cheer together over Michigan having its fifth consecutive highest recycling rate!

This wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of many Michiganders trying their best at recycling every day. And that’s never more true than in the good ole’ Flint.

Flint’s doing some really good recycling. Knowing your local rules helps a lot when you’re recycling. Here are some of our favorite highlights from Flint.

Paper and cartons should be empty and clean.

Cardboard should be flattened.

Metal aluminum cans, steel cans and foil trays should be empty and dry.

Plastic bottles, jars and jugs should be empty and dry.

Glass bottles and jars should be empty and dry.

Remember to keep those recyclables loose in the curbside bin! And no batteries, electronics, food, cords, wires or plastic bags!

Every piece of recycling makes a difference. Don’t believe us? Check out these stats:

• Over 72,500 jobs supported
• $17 billion in revenue generated
• More than 800K tons of materials saved
• A record high (again) recycling rate of 26%

Thank you, humans!

Find your local recycling rules here!

Find your local rules

Did you know Grand Rapids has a great art vibe? It may come as a surprise that the Recycling Raccoon Squad appreciates art. But we also appreciate the great recycling work being done in GR!

Not sure about the difference it’s making? Try this … more than 800K tons of material saved, over 72,500 jobs supported, $17 billion in revenue generated and a record recycling rate of 26%.

We hit the road recently on the Great Recycling Road Trip. We’re celebrating Michigan’s fifth consecutive year with its highest recycling rate by visiting some of our favorite spots in Michigan.

While we were there, we visited some spots in the city as well as checked out the local recycling sites.

Here’s a breakdown of some of Grand Rapids’ recycling rules:

• Paper — Recycle items like newspapers and old magazines, flattened cardboard and office paper. Pizza boxes are ok, as long as they’re clean. Shredded paper is a no-no.
• Plastic — Bottles and containers with caps on are good. But no plastic bags or foam, please.
• Glass — All glass bottles and jars of every color are OK. No ceramics or windows though.
• Metal — Aluminum foil and steel/aluminum cans and bottles are a yes. Propane tanks and scrap metal are a no.
• Cartons — Recycle clean and empty cartons with caps on.

Stuff like books, batteries and plastic film are also a no in the curbside recycling in Grand Rapids, but the city offers suggestions on how to recycle all these materials on its website.

Find your local rules