The average person throws away 4.6 pounds of trash everyday. About 50% of this “trash” is recyclable and 25% of it is compostable. By recycling we can conserve landfill space, which keeps disposal costs low and slows down the need to build new landfills.
Recycling also saves energy and conserves natural resources. Recycling one ton of paper saves 7,000 gallons of water, 31 trees, 4,000 kWh of electricity, and 60 pounds of air pollutants (Department of Energy). In Isabella County we recycle over 6,000 tons a year!
Last and not least, recycling supports local jobs. The recycling center employs drivers who pick-up your recycling and processors who sort and prepare material for shipment. We also make it a goal to ship material to Michigan based processing facilities whenever possible.
We accept #1-#7 plastics.
The curbside truck has three compartments: one for cardboard, one for newspapers and magazines, and one of containers (plastic, metal, glass). When the truck returns to the recycling center it dumps the materials into the proper material bay. Since there are only three compartments any other type of material would have to be mixed in with the wrong material. This material is then sorted out and not recycled.
Polystyrene (Styrofoam) can be recycled at the Recycling Center on River Road in Mount Pleasant. We accept food containers and cups and molded shapes and forms. Please deposit polystyrene in the blue shed.
If you have packaging peanuts please ask us for local reuse options.
Yard waste and brush can be brought to the Recycling Center. We charge $1 per 30 gallon bag of leaves and grass and $12 a cubic yard for brush. We do not accept stumps.
The State of Michigan has a ban on the land filling of yard waste. Yard waste included leaves, grass clippings, shrubbery, brush, and tree trimmings.
Backyard composting is a great way to manage organics right at your home and it’s free. All you need to get started is the space to start a pile or to place an enclosed composter. Vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and many other organic wastes from your home can be composted with your leaves and grass. Check out the composting page for more information.
If you already recycle your papers, boxes, bottles, and cans you can start recycling your organic waste as well. Composting food waste is a great way to decrease your trash.
If you already compost, look for ways you can reduce your current trash. A majority of items that are not recyclable are generally plastic packaging. Buy items in bulk or choose a brand that has less packaging. Make sure you buy items with recycled content to close the loop!
You do not have to wash containers or remove their label before recycling. We do, however, suggest to lightly rinse containers. This cuts down on odors in your house as well as keeps down contamination at the Recycling Center.
Please remove the lids on containers before recycling. Lids are made of a different type of plastic, which can contaminate the other plastics. Please put lids in the trash, or if the lid is metal, remove it from the container before recycling.
For $2 out of county residents can utilize recycling drop-off. You can bring in unlimited recycling per $2 trip. Recycling items include cardboard, boxboard, brown paper bags, newspaper, catalogs, magazines, plastic bottles and jugs, brown and clear glass, and tin (steel) and aluminum.
Please check-in and pay at the front office prior to dropping off recycling.
Yes, we now accept scrap metal at the Recycling Center. You can drop-off large and small scrap items including wire hangers, appliances, ferrous metals, aluminum, and copper.
We cannot accept items containing Freon such as refrigerators and freezers. Please call for proper disposal options.
We no longer can accept propane tanks of any size. You may contact Fair Salvage 2741 East Grass Lake Rd Clare, MI (989-386-7552) or Top of the Hill Recycling 735 S. Mission Rd Mt. Pleasant MI 48858 (989-317-0257)
The blue curbside bin (black if you are in Union Township) is similar to the flag on your mailbox; it alerts the curbside driver to pick-up the recycling. The City of Mt. Pleasant and Union Township butt up to each other, the difference in color tells the driver if it is the City of Mt. Pleasant (Blue Bins) or Union Township (Black Bins). The Isabella County curbside program allows a fair amount of recycling per pick-up, but a resident must keep in mind the curbside program has increased since inception. Recycle trucks are divided into three compartments: directly behind the cab is housed plastics, tin & clear glass, middle compartment is for office paper & newspaper and the farthest compartment behind the cab is cardboard. If the driver has left a portion of your material (cardboard, plastic or paper) you have put out for curbside, it may be due to the particular compartment has filled up and they cannot put anymore in. You have an option to put the material out again on your next scheduled pickup or you may take it to any of the Depots we have set up in the county – please refer to the Depot list on the recycling page. Additionally, if you have more recycling than can fit in the required bin, you may use an additional bin of your choice – keep in mind it must be close to the size of the required bin. The drivers are picking up many stops on each curbside route, they have to lift the containers over their heads, anything larger than the required bin compromises their safety. The required bin must be out at all times as it alerts the curbside driver to pick-up the recycling
Please give the Isabella County Material Recovery Facility a call 989-773-9631 if you have questions concerning your bin.
The Recycling Center can only accept recyclable materials. Refuse will need to be taken to either a transfer station or a landfill, please call us for location and contact information. We can also provide contact information for local waste haulers.
Isabella County does not own or operate an open landfill. It is important for all residents to participate in local recycling options in order to keep waste disposal costs low.