Flint and Bay City are among the communities contributing to improved household recycling statewide and the growth of Michigan鈥檚 sustainable circular economy. The eastern Michigan cities recently held local events to celebrate new recycling records.
The announcements came as Michigan continues to recognize five consecutive years of record-setting improvement in the state鈥檚 overall recycling rate. In April, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced a new record-high 26% recycling rate聽based on the most recent data available.
At a news conference this month outside Flint City Hall, City and Genesee County leaders announced a new all-time high of 2,200 tons a year compared to 624 tons a year before the rollout of 鈥淔lint Strong鈥�-branded household recycling carts in 2024 鈥� a 253% increase.
鈥淓very bottle, box, and can we recycle brings us one step closer to a sustainable Flint where both the environment and our community thrive,鈥� Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. 鈥淭his analysis by the City of Flint with EGLE reminds everyone how simple and important it is to recycle properly.鈥�
Flint leaders attribute the City鈥檚 recycling achievement to the distribution of more than 68,000 free 96-gallon trash carts and 64-gallon recycling carts to more than 34,000 residential households. The rollout marked the first major step in transitioning Flint to a cart-based recycling program. The previous recycling program required residents to provide their own waste and recycling receptacles for curbside pickup.
EGLE provided Flint with a $1 million infrastructure grant to help the City buy and provide the recycling carts free to residents. National nonprofit The Recycling Partnership awarded a $3.3 million grant to help support Flint鈥檚 effort to modernize its waste management program and expand access to recycling.
The city鈥檚 recycling improvement coincides with plans for a new $12.7 million Genesee County Recycling and Education Center on Chavez Drive at the site of a former McDonald Dairy property. EGLE has allocated $900,000 toward the project.
鈥淧romoting healthy, safe, and livable communities is one of the Board鈥檚 fundamental priorities, and responsible recycling is an important part of that work,鈥� said Genesee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dale K. Weighill. 鈥淕ood environmental stewardship helps protect our neighborhoods, preserve our natural resources, and contribute to a better quality of life throughout Genesee County.鈥�
Bay City leaders met Aug. 31 at the Bay City Recycles Drop-off Center on Water Street to announce the city鈥檚 annual recycling rate has reached a record high, according to data from EGLE and the Bay City Department of Public Works (DPW).
Households recycled 1,396 tons of material in 2025, up 50% from 2022. That growth follows the Bay City DPW and City leaders鈥� 2022 launch of a citywide program to distribute new 96-gallon curbside recycling carts to 15,000 households, supported by funding from EGLE. Bay City鈥檚 recycling improvements are also attributed to increased use of the Bay City Recycles Drop-off Center, supported by a $50,000 EGLE grant.
鈥淓very bottle, box, and can we recycle brings us one step closer to a sustainable Bay City where both the environment and our community thrive,鈥� said Bay City Mayor Christopher Girard. 鈥淭his analysis with EGLE reminds everyone how simple and important it is to recycle properly,鈥� Girard said. 鈥淏y increasing our recycling tonnage, we not only conserve natural resources but also generate significant economic benefits, supporting thousands of jobs and injecting billions of dollars into Michigan鈥檚 statewide economy.鈥�