Michigan’s latest effort to boost the economy comes with a renewed focus on recycling.
The state office of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is announcing a nearly $5 million effort to spark investment through recycling grants in 45 communities all across the state. EGLE calls it “Next Cycle Michigan”. The agency hopes the record-setting effort could boost the economy and also fight climate change.
EGLE Director Liesl Clark says “NextCycle offers a tremendous next step forward for both recycling and business development.” She adds, “It’s a combination of investments in public spaces as well as private spaces in order to make a big difference.”
It’s billed as the largest push in state history to spark a ‘recycling and recovery’ economy. “With the launch of the Next Cycle Michigan initiative, the state of Michigan can lay the groundwork for successful pursuit of ambitious, sustainability goals across our state. From rural communities to downtown Detroit. From private citizens, to businesses, schools and other institutions,” Clark says.
EGLE says $4.9 million in grants are going to 45 communities, businesses, and nonprofits in almost every region of the state. Liz Browne is the EGLE Materials Management Division Director. “Recycling has become an essential tool in supporting our state’s local economies, businesses big and small. And major employers in the manufacturing sector.”
In northern Michigan, State Senator Wayne Schmidt, R-Grand Traverse County, says grants will go to Alpena, Cheboygan, and Emmet County, as well as Traverse City, and the U-P. “Commercial recycling has gone down a little bit. So it’s critical that we make sure that we’re recycling at home. Because those products are critical in the manufacturing supply chain.”
Browne agrees. EGLE says the goal is to raise Michigan’s recycling rate from 15% to 45%, and the latest numbers show Michigan is sitting at 18%. “A lot of the commercial recycling is down. Because people aren’t at their own offices, businesses were closed down or working on a shoestring just to keep things moving.”
The NextCycle Michigan Initiative is also about marketing and public relations: promoting recycling activities while keeping materials out of landfills. Clark says, “There’s a public piece in terms of talking to folks about how they recycle… it’s a combination of investments in public spaces as well as private spaces in order to make a big difference.”
“Education and participation will be critical to the success of these efforts. The effectiveness of Michigan’s commitment to recycling depends, more than anything else, on the daily decisions and actions of Michiganders,” Clarke says.
The state says recycling can also support climate change priorities through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Browne says, “By turning waste materials into new products, made here in Michigan, we can achieve our goals of saving resources, protecting our climate, and contributing to the prosperity of Michigan-based companies.” She adds, “Together we are planning to use public and private investment in Michigan’s recycling system, to put materials once destined for the landfill, back into use in manufacturing.”
Rich Studley is the President and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “I think it’s fascinating to watch the debate change, from landfills to solid waste management, to materials management and recycling.”
The funding is part of EGLE’s strategy to support recycling infrastructure and improve the quality of recyclable materials. That’s an effort that could have an international impact. Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, from Michigan’s 11th Congressional District in southeast Michigan, says that “new technologies and innovation (are) something that NextCycle is harnessing right on the ground in Michigan. And lessening our dependence on countries like China, that have developed trillion dollar recycling infrastructure. Much to our own expense. Then changed on the drop of a dime such that they were not accepting a lot of our materials and goods, such as plastics.”
Clark says, “Solutions don’t come from the state, Solutions don’t come from the feds. Solutions come from partnerships, between public and private players. Most importantly working with folks on the local level working to really make a difference.”
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