Materials Recycling Facility
Department
of Public Works
322 Bartlett SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 336-4360
Operating hours are:
Monday – Friday
8:00AM – 4:30PM.
Household Waste Guide
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About The Facility
The Kent County Materials Recycling Facility began operation at the current site in 1990, when Recycle Unlimited ceased operation. The County purchased the building and land in 1994. The building was expanded to 40,000 square feet and remodeled to include a tipping floor and two sorting lines (one for paper and one for glass, metal and plastic containers).
The Recycle Facility currently processes between 40 and 50 tons of material per day. Two shifts run daily, paper is sorted and baled during the day and the commingled container line is run in the evening. Approximately 25 to 35 trucks drop off residential recyclables for processing per day. Most of the recyclables are sorted within 24 to 72 hours after drop-off.
Materials
Processed for Recycling
Paper - the facility processes 8-10 semi-truck loads of mixed paper per week. Mixed paper includes newspaper with inserts, 'junk' mail, fliers, envelopes, and office paper.
Corrugated Cardboard - includes brown paper bags, averages approximately one semi-truck load per week.
Magazines and Catalogs - processed at about one semi-truck load per month.
Steel Food and Beverage Cans - approximately 16,000 pounds of steel cans are shipped out every other week to a local scrap metal dealer.
Aluminum Cans and Foil Products - food and beverage containers and other household aluminum products are baled and sent to a broker once a year.
Glass Bottles and Jars - 20 tons of clear and colored glass containers are shipped once a week.
Plastic
– containers #1 through #7 (except Styrofoam) are processed at the
facility. The #1 (PETE) is shipped out about every five weeks or about 15
- 16 tons.
The #2 (HDPE) dairy is shipped out about once a month or 20 tons. The #2
(HDPE) colored plastic bottles is sent out approximately once every six
weeks at
around 17 tons. Mixed plastics (#3,4,5,6 and 7) are shipped once a month,
at about 21 tons.
Batteries
– rechargeable batteries and button cell (from a watch or hearing aid)
are collected and are recycled through a private company. AA, C, D (alkaline)
batteries are diverted from the incinerator. The battery program processes
about 55,000 pounds of batteries per year at
an annual cost of $8,000-$9,000.
Electronics – the recycling program for electronics accepts computer equipment, audio equipment, and televisions for recycling. We currently handle about 36,000 lbs per month from 3 collection points. The electronics go to Valley City Environmental in Grand Rapids for recycling. From August 2001 through 2006 over 2.2 million pounds of electronics were recycled.
The City of Grand Rapids Waste Not curbside recycling program provides the Materials Recycling Facility with approximately 40% of its materials. This free program is available to residents living in single or multi-family households adjacent to public streets within the City of Grand Rapids.
