Collaboration between The Recycling Partnership and Michigan EGLE continues in a third phase of grants available statewide to improve residential recycling
Together with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), The Recycling Partnership today announced a third phase of grants available for Michigan communities to improve residential recycling.
In total, $800,000 will be available for Michigan communities to introduce communitywide projects aimed at reducing recycling contamination and improving the quality of materials recycled at curbside, drop-off locations, or multifamily properties.
“Working with The Recycling Partnership, we have been able to expand with each phase of granting initiatives since 2019. We’re excited to continue to provide quality improvement grants and new to this phase, multifamily programs being able to apply for funding,” said Emily Freeman, Recycling Specialist at EGLE’s Materials Management Division. “It’s a great opportunity to continue to work with Michigan communities to meet our recycling goals.”
In addition to continuing to build on the success of Michigan’s award-winning Know It Before You Throw It recycling education campaign, grantees with curbside recycling service will utilize The Partnership’s nationally acclaimed Feet on the Street cart-tagging program – an initiative designed to improve the quality of curbside recycling by providing residents personalized and real-time education and feedback on their curbside recycling practices. In addition, selected curbside grantees will benefit from use of The Partnership’s new mobile app, while all grantees will implement effective recycling education materials such as direct mail and targeted digital and social media campaigns.
Grantees with drop-off recycling services will use a modified version of Feet on the Street to combat recycling contamination and illegal dumping at recycling drop off sites while also improving awareness and participation in the local recycling program. Selected grantees will benefit from inclusive signage and site improvements, security upgrades for features such as cameras, increased recycling participation, and other opportunities to educate households on what is and isn’t recyclable.
Multifamily program grantees will participate in projects to engage with their residents directly on-site and provide education through signage, direct mail, and printed materials.
All Michigan community recycling programs are eligible to submit an application for grants up to $4 per household for curbside programs and up to $3 per household for drop-off programs. Applications are due March 10, 2023 and complete instructions can be found in the request for proposal (RFP) at recyclingpartnership.org/michiganrfp.
“We are thrilled to be able to work with Michigan EGLE on another phase of grants. More Michigan communities will be able to benefit from this work and expanding in this phase to working with multifamily property recycling means continuing to ensure even more Michigan residents know what and how to recycle,” said Jill Martin, Director of State Programs at The Recycling Partnership. “These projects will continue to help the Great Lakes State capture more quality recyclables, creating a more circular economy, a less wasteful planet, and stronger, healthier Michigan communities.”
This third phase builds on two previous phases of collaborative grant projects between The Recycling Partnership and MI EGLE. Since 2019, these projects have assisted over 200 communities throughout Michigan in improving residential recycling and reducing contamination by as much as 50%.
Currently, Michigan’s recycling industry generates nearly 36,000 jobs statewide and an annual payroll of $2.6 billion. Achieving EGLE’s 45% recycling goal would support 138,000 new jobs in Michigan’s recycling industry and provide $9 billion in annual labor income and $33.8 billion in economic output according to a study commissioned by Michigan EGLE.
To learn more about how to apply, visit recyclingpartnership.org/michiganrfp.