Dive Brief:
- The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality reaffirmed its commitment last week to improving recycling in the state. It is working to create emerging business markets in the field, and noted that preliminary work is being done in order to achieve long-term success.
- In 2014, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced a goal to double the state's recycling rate within a two-year timeframe, bringing it more in line with the U.S. average. This idea has been tossed around since 2013.
- Michigan's recycling rate was 15% in 2012, according to estimates released by Columbia University researchers.
Dive Insight:
Michigan’s 2015 fiscal budget has $1 million earmarked for the DEQ to push the recycling initiative forward. The agency is preparing to launch a recycling outreach campaign.
According to the Michigan Recycling Coalition, the state is squandering $435 million in commodities annually due to its low recycling rate. The state currently doesn’t have a method for measuring recycling rates, but that hurdle is being addressed.
In 2014, Snyder established the Governor’s Recycling Council. The group organized initiatives aimed at increasing the recycling rate, and is looking to legislators to implement requirements for reporting and tracking rates. In addition, the group is pushing for legislation that would mandate that haulers provide recycling pick-up if they collect residential waste.
