For the third year in a row, Michigan鈥檚 recycling rate has hit a record-high, according to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Michigan鈥檚 recycling rate has risen from about 14% before 2019 to over 23% now. Officials say they expect the state will reach a 30% recycling rate by 2029. 聽According to the聽most recent figures聽from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the national recycling rate is currently 32% with a goal to increase that number to 50% by 2030.
The state department aims to further expand recycling access with over $5 million in new grants to support projects in Metro Detroit, Genesee County, Lansing, Southwest Oakland County, Isabella County, Van Buren County, Marquette County, Sterling Heights and Madison Heights. Genesee County is set to receive $900,000 to establish its first-ever countywide recycling drop-off center.
Cody Roblyer, the lead planner for the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission, said the demolition phase will be completed at the previous site of McDonald Dairy Company, directly off I-475 in Flint by early 2025. Roblyer said he expects construction to commence in early 2026 with opening in late 2026 or early 2027.