Public Works

Solid Waste Division

Residential Waste

Business & School Waste


Additional Links

Recycling Calculator

Grab a recyclable item and drop it into the Conversionator. Then use the recycling calculator to add up how much you're saving the Earth!

Scholastic "Recycling Starts With You!"

Brought to you by Scholastic and the American Forest & Paper Association, these easy-to-use, engaging classroom materials meet national standards while raising students’ awareness of the importance of paper recycling. Includes turnkey lessons, reproducibles, and additional resources to easily incorporate this program into your curriculum.

DeVos Children's Hospital Poison Awareness Program for Preschoolers

You can play a vital role in educating your students about poison prevention. Young children are at greatest risk for unintentional poisonings – and that’s why we’ve created the Quills Up – Stay Away! A Poison Awareness Program — featuring Spike, the porcupine puppet. The program makes it easy and fun to teach this important topic.

Environmental Protection Agency Education Resourcees

Provides a wealth of materials for teachers, kids, students, and researchers to develop an increased knowledge of solid waste issues. These resources are intended to increase environmental awareness and inspire participation in environmental activities.

The Quest for Less

This guide provides hands-on lessons and activities, enrichment ideas, journal writing assignments, and other educational tools related to preventing and reducing waste. Its multidisciplinary focus includes math, science, art, social studies, language arts, and health. Lessons encourage students to utilize skills ranging from reading and writing to problem-solving and analytical thinking.

Planet Protectors Club for Grades K-5

As a Planet Protector, your mission is to improve the world around you by making less trash. Planet Protectors also help other people learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle. To carry out this mission, check out these fun activities and games. The more you learn about reducing wastes and saving resources, the better you become at carrying out the Planet Protector goals.

Make a Difference Campaign for Middle School Students

EPA's "Make a Difference" campaign is aimed at educating and engaging you in resource conservation and environmental protection. This campaign helps you make informed decisions for protecting the environment in your day-to-day life. These resources will inspire you to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste -- to "make a difference" at home, at school, and in your community.

Your Environment, Your Choices for Grades 9-12

You make choices every day that affect the environment: Do I throw away this notebook paper? Do I buy this blouse or shirt? What do I pack in my lunch? The purpose of the 'Your Environment. Your Choice.' campaign is to provide you with the information you need to answer these questions. You'll be able to make environmentally sound choices about the products and natural resources you use, the waste you create and the environment in which you live.

Working Together for a Healthy Environment - A Guide for Multi-Cultural Community Groups

Citizens in every community—including schools, businesses, and local governments—must work together to reduce and better manage our waste. Each of us can do our part. These resources will allow you to better understand solid and hazardous waste issues at the local level, and help you improve your community. Together, we can make a difference!

Teach English, Teach About the Environment

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed the 'Teach English, Teach about the Environment' curriculum to help you teach English to adult students while introducing basic concepts about the environment and individual environmental responsibility. These concepts can help the newly-arrived be part of cleaner and healthier communities by understanding and practicing the “3 R's” of solid waste management – reduce, reuse, recycle. “Background Information – The 3Rs of Solid Waste Management” on page 40 should be read before using this curriculum.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality - Recycling

Recycling is a major component of Michigan waste reduction efforts. It is often the first step businesses take toward a more efficient and cleaner operation. It is also a popular, positive way individuals can protect their environment and reduce the impact of climate change. The State's website gives ideas on how to handle specific types of waste, county contacts, recycling organizations and downloadable publications that may help you reduce, reuse, recycle and properly dispose.