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.