Resource Recovery
The Resource Recovery Program forms an integral part of Kent County’s Solid Waste Management Plan. Its main objective is to serve as an informational connection between the Department of Public Works and the general public by providing educational and awareness programs for county residents. Waste reduction, reuse, recycling and hazardous waste management are foundational to Resource Recovery.
Team efforts are focused on assisting area residents and businesses in locating resources that provide information and opportunities to reduce waste by maximizing reuse and recycling alternatives. Activities performed by Resource Recovery staff include public presentations at schools, associations or group meetings, tours of the Materials Recovery Facility and the Landfill, and staffing the Household Hazardous Waste Program to provide safe disposal of household chemicals to safeguard human, animal and environmental health.
Resource Recovery means recovering valuable materials from the waste stream and focuses on the material remaining in waste bins after residents have reduced, re-used and recycled their waste. Until now, these materials have been referred to as 'garbage' or 'trash', but they don’t have to be. If these materials are considered resources, there are many ways we can use them to our benefit and to the benefit of the environment.
Resource Recovery involves a range of systems, processes and technologies to:
- Reduce the amount of materials that are sent to a landfill
- Capture recyclable items from the waste stream
- Convert the waste into resources such as compost, energy, or new products created through repairing or dismantling the waste with the goal of selling them – either for reuse in industry or directly back to the public.
In order to move toward a more sustainable approach to waste management, we strive to follow the 4-Rs:
- Reduce – cutting back on the amount of waste that we produce in the first place, such as buying in bulk and buying products with less packaging
- Reuse – using items more than once, such as using glass jars for storage, donating items for others to use and borrowing items when possible
- Recycle – putting the right materials in your recycling bin, or taking them to a drop-off center
- Recover – capturing resources from the waste stream and converting them to compost and/or energy
How You Can Be Involved
Take a Tour
Visit our facilities and become familiar with the solid waste planning in Kent County.
Participate in the Household Hazardous Waste Program
Manage your hazardous waste safely. Schedule
an appointment online to drop off your hazardous waste or come to one of our pre-scheduled Saturday collections.
Sign Up for a Presentation
Have a Resource Recovery Specialist visit your classroom or group event to tell you more about the 4-Rs.
Get More Information
If you have any questions, please contact a Resource Recovery Specialist at (616) 336-4371 or
email us!
