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.