Kent County Residential Recycling
Household Waste Guide
Household Waste Guide | Guía de Residuos Caseros (PDF) |
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There are two options in Kent County for residents to participate in a recycling program. The first is through curbside recycling and the second through the Kent County recycling drop-off sites.
Curbside Recycling
The majority of residents participate in recycling by contracting with their private waste hauler to provide a curbside bin for recycling. To get curbside service call your current waste hauler or check the yellow pages under “Rubbish & Garbage Removal”. Residents of the City of Grand Rapids can sign up for the city's FREE "Waste Not" curbside program operated by the City by dialing (616) 456-3232.
Recycling Drop-Off Sites
Kent County operates two residential recycling drop-off sites that are open to all residents for no cost. Please follow the directions on the containers and do not include items that are not listed. Leaving anything outside the containers is considered illegal dumping. If you have questions about what is recyclable, or need to find out where to recycle something that is not listed, email us or check the household waste guide.
| Rockford Recycling Center at the North Kent Transfer Station 2908 Ten Mile Rd., Rockford. Monday thru Saturday |
Kentwood Recycling Center at the Kentwood Public Works Facility 5068 Breton Road (north of 52nd St.) Monday thru Friday |
Recyclable Materials
Recyclables are not garbage; they are commodities we must sell to be made into new products.
Dirty materials cannot be sold and will become trash. Make sure recyclables are clean and free of liquids and food. Please follow all directions and include only those items listed below.
Glass
Clear and colored food and beverage glass containers.
Food and beverage containers.
Preparation: Rinse clean. Remove metal and plastic rings. Recycle lids separately.
Glass items not accepted: dishes, ceramics, light bulbs, mirrors, windowpanes, automobile glass, and other non-food and beverage glass.
Metal
Steel Cans
Food and beverage containers, empty aerosol cans.
Preparation: Rinse cans clean. Aerosol cans must be completely empty. Remove and discard caps and nozzles.
Steel items not accepted: bakeware, pots, pans, utensils, hangers, car parts or scrap metal, fencing, propane cylinders.
Aluminum Foil And Cans
Food and beverage (non-deposit) containers, foil, pie tins.
Preparation: Wash foil very clean, no food deposits or residue can remain. Rinse cans clean.
Aluminum items not accepted: foil backed paper, gum wrappers, foil wrapping paper, pots, pans, lawn furniture, siding, window frames and doors.
Plastic
Plastic items are often stamped with a number, 1 thru 7, placed inside a recycling triangle. The numbered triangle is usually located on or near the bottom of the plastic item. The number indicates what kind of plastic the item is made of, allowing us to sort the plastics accordingly.
Plastic Containers #1 through #7 (NO Styrofoam)
Milk jugs; water, detergent and shampoo bottles; butter tubs; yogurt cups; microwave food trays; plant flats & flower pots; peanut butter jars and other plastic containers stamped #1-#7 (excluding Styrofoam).
Preparation: Remove caps to allow the container to dry out. Wash all containers clean.
Plastic GROCERY BAGS #2 and #4
Preparation: Bags should be clean, dry and empty (no coupons, store receipts, or items inside bags). Grocery bags have the #2 or #4 printed on them, telling us what kind of plastic it is made from. Other plastic bags do not, so they should not be recycled.
Plastic items not accepted: bottles containing automotive fluids or hazardous materials (they cannot safely be rinsed); Styrofoam (cups, plates, peanuts, packaging materials); plastic film and other non-rigid plastic (like garbage bags, Ziptop bags, drycleaners bags, etc.)
Paper
Newspaper, Magazines, Brown Paper Bags, Junk Mail and Paperboard
Newspapers (including inserts); typing, writing, and computer paper; junk mail, envelopes, fliers; magazines & catalogs; brown paper bags; shoe boxes, cracker boxes and cereal boxes (paperboard).
Preparation: Place paper items in brown paper bags or place loose in appropriate drop site bin. Please do not put paper in plastic bags or cardboard boxes.
Paper items not accepted: pet food bags, milk & juice cartons, wrapping paper, tissue, Kleenex, napkins, paper towels, wax paper, used paper plates, paper with food or food stains, telephone books.
Corrugated Cardboard
Heavy shipping and packaging boxes with a ‘wavy’ inner layer.
Preparation: Remove all plastic liners and inserts, strapping, staples and wrapping. Flatten boxes.
Box types not accepted: boxes with glued-in Styrofoam or plastic packing; boxes with heavy staples; boxes with metal or plastic strapping.
Telephone books are not accepted for recycling because of the weight, bindings and space limitations in our sorting facility.
Electronics
Computers & accessories (keyboard, mouse, etc.), monitors, televisions, printers/plotters, fax machine, scanners, VCR, DVD, video game machines (Play Station, Game Boy), microwave, audio equipment, video camera, digital camera, networking gear, cordless telephone.
Electronic devices can be dropped off at the North Kent Transfer Station, the South Kent Landfill and the Materials Recycling Facility during normal business hours. This program is free of charge for Kent County residents.
Individuals may also drop off working electronics and non-working computers at a local Goodwill donation center.
When in Doubt Throw it Out!
Before you try to recycle an item not specifically addressed on this page, call our office at (616) 336-2570 ext. 0 to determine if the item can be recycled.
Including materials that are not listed can make the recyclable material unusable. For example, broken window glass thrown in with the other clear glass bottles and jars ruins the whole load. Manufacturers cannot process different types of glass together and there is no way to sort out window glass from container glass.
Do not take a chance on ruining valuable materials. When in doubt, throw it out!
Thank You for Recycling!
If you have additional Recycling Questions or would like more information on services and programs available through the Kent County Department of Public Works, please call (616) 336-2570.
