A state-supported program is helping 14 communities and businesses to expand waste reduction operations. Mid-Michigan is on the docket for investments in recycling services.
The Isabella County Municipal Recycling Facility (ICMRF) will receive technical support and is "head of the line" for future funding through the NextCycle program.
Jake Borton is the director of the ICMRF. He said the support will aid in transitioning operations from dual-stream to single-stream, which means recyclables wouldn’t need to be sorted by consumers.
“There's a tremendous increase in the amount of equipment that that we would need, and that's why we say it would be pretty much a complete overhaul of our system," Borton said.
Borton said the switch to single-stream recycling would increase the tons of materials processed from 4-5,000 a year to 18,000.
Updating the infrastructure, Borton said, would include adding 10,000 square feet to the building, additional processing equipment, and potentially introducing automation.
The award follows a state policy change that requires counties to set new goals and increase capacity for recycling and composting.
The law requires recyclers to collaborate with surrounding counties, and Borton said the NextCycle award puts Isabella County in the “perfect position” to do that.
"[Our intention] is that Isabella County could be become a regional hub and spoke for recycling in the Central Michigan area," Borton said.
This year's NextCycle program goes until the end of October.
For the full list of awardees, program alumni, and NextCycle initiatives, check out the state's announcement here.
