How Can We Improve Trash, Recycling, and More in Your Community?

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2025

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NORTHWEST LOWER MI – What if your recycling bin or drop-off site could accept more, or you had access to new ways to start composting? Networks Northwest is working with Antrim, Charlevoix, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford County on their Materials Management processes, and are actively seeking responses from residents and visitors to the Northwest Lower Michigan Materials Management Plan Resident Survey. The anonymous survey can be completed in 5-10 minutes with responses directly impacting the goals and objectives and action plan of the respective counties.

All Counties are required to update their Materials Management Plan which deals with trash, recycling, and organics, amongst other materials. The survey will help the Planning Committee with understanding what the community is looking for and determining the plan’s goals and objectives. Possible ideas include new composting opportunities, expanded recycling access, or increasing the number of household hazardous waste events. We would love to hear what ideas and thoughts you have to help keep things out of the landfill that do not belong there.

According to the 2024 EGLE Annual Report of Solid Waste Landfilled in Michigan, Antrim, Charlevoix, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford landfilled over 500,000 tons of materials. Some landfilled materials are unable to be recovered (such as the Industrial Waste generated in Charlevoix County), but data modeling estimates there is around 86,000 tons of readily compostable and readily recyclable materials being landfilled. Some of this figure is dependent on what is accepted within the community.

 

2024 County Landfilled and Estimated Recyclable and Compostable Tonnages
County	2024 Tons Landfilled	Estimated Recyclable and Compostable Tons
Antrim	78,111	17,0000
Charlevoix	242,114	18,900
Manistee	93,033	17,700
Missaukee	29,706	9,900
Wexford	58,665	22,700
TOTAL TONNAGE	501,630	86,200

 

Residents who provide their email address will be entered into a drawing for one of five $50 gift cards and can be assured their email will only be used for that purpose. For more information on Materials Management, visit nwm.org/mmp. For any questions, to request a paper copy of the survey, or for additional assistance, please contact Mathew Cooke, Community Planner at Networks Northwest, by email at mathew.cooke@networksnorthwest.org or phone at (231) 929-5056.

Survey Link:

https://bit.ly/MMPSurvey

Networks Northwest MMP Resource Page:

https://www.networksnorthwest.org/community/materials-management-planning/