Holland, MI – The City rolled out new recycling carts for residents over the last two weeks and is ready to officially launch its “single-stream” collection service next week. With this new recycling program, bagging recyclable items is no longer necessary; instead, residents will be able to place all loose recyclable items directly into a new, large recycling container. The 96-gallon carts will replace the yellow bags currently used for residential recycling and come with wheels for easy maneuvering and attached lids to keep recyclables dry and secure.
Holland Mayor, Nathan Bocks, stated, “Holland’s new recycling program makes the right thing to do, the easy thing to do. It will increase community recycling participation significantly. I have already started filling my family’s cart with clean, dry recyclable materials. It is much easier than the old system ever was.”
Residents may begin using their new carts the week of May 3 for those in Zone A, and the first collection for residents in Zone B will be week of May 12. Residents’ recycling will be collected the same day as their trash is collected – trash weekly, recycling every other week. To find your recycling day and Zone, plus answers to other Frequently Asked Questions, visit recycleholland.com or call 616.355.1500 ext. 2.
The City applied for and received a grant from The Recycling Partnership, a nonprofit organization that works with city governments nationwide to transform their recycling programs and a grant from the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). The City of Holland was selected to receive grant support because of its dedication to advancing recycling in the community. The grant from The Recycling Partnership helped pay for approximately 9,500 new carts and includes funding for education and outreach about the new collection process.
“The Recycling Partnership is excited and proud to partner with the City of Holland to expand equitable recycling access for the City’s nearly 9,500 households,” said Jill Martin, Director of Community Programs at The Recycling Partnership. “We are thrilled to help the community capture an estimated 840,000 pounds of quality recyclables, unlocking critical supply for the circular economy, and we are grateful to the PepsiCo Foundation for their support of this important program through the All in on Recycling initiative.”
The City asks that residents continue to do their part by placing only recyclable materials in their carts, including glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, food and beverage cartons, paper products (including newspapers and flattened cardboard), and empty plastic bottles and containers. To help limit contamination, give food and drink containers a quick rinse and then place them directly into the recycling cart—no sorting needed.
Some items that cannot be recycled include plastic bags, paper towels, pizza boxes, electrical equipment, batteries, and clothing. These items often get mixed into recycling carts because of “wishcycling,” or the hope that they can be recycled. While well-intentioned, non-recyclable items cause serious issues.
About the City of Holland:
The City of Holland, Michigan is a vibrant community in a beautiful lakefront setting. It is a world-class city with a small-town feel, making it one of the best places to live, work and vacation. Holland has been recognized by Forbes Magazine and Money Magazine as one of the safest and most beautiful places in the U.S. and was voted as the “Second Happiest and Healthiest Places to Live in America” by Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. In 2015, Holland landed the number three spot on the Livability.com list as one of the “10 Best Cities for Families.”