The recycling rate in the Great Lakes State is at a record high for the fourth consecutive year, according to a new analysis of data that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has announced. The EGLE research shows Michigan has steadily increased its recycling rate from聽14.25% before 2019 to 23% last year and over 25% now. EGLE forecasts that Michigan is on track to achieve the state鈥檚 goal of a 30% recycling rate by 2029.
EGLE鈥檚 record recycling rate announcement coincides with Michigan officially recognizing Earth Day on聽Tuesday, as聽proclaimed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.聽This annual event is celebrated to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect the planet.聽In Michigan, Earth Day is observed with activities including sustainability initiatives, environmental cleanups and educational events.
鈥淢ichigan鈥檚 commitment to recycling is shaping a cleaner, more resilient future. By increasing our recycling rate, we not only conserve natural resources but also generate substantial economic benefits 鈥� supporting over 72,500 jobs and injecting billions of dollars into our economy,鈥� said EGLE Director Phil Roos. 鈥淓very bottle, box and can recycled brings us one step closer to a sustainable Michigan where both the environment and our communities thrive.鈥�
In fiscal year (FY) 2024, Michiganders recycled more than 71,000 tons of glass, 329,000 tons of paper and paper products and 56,000 tons of plastics and plastic products. The total amount of residential recycled materials reported for FY 2024 was 723,174 tons 鈥� exceeding the year before by more than 19,000 tons.
This equates to every person in Michigan recycling nearly 143 pounds of cardboard boxes, milk cartons, soup cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, food waste and other materials over a 12-month span, EGLE researchers found 鈥淭he volume of materials Michiganders recycled in FY 2024 equals the weight of 10 Mackinac Bridges and would fill the football stadiums of the Detroit Lions, University of Michigan and Michigan State University as well as the hockey stadium of national champion Western Michigan University,鈥� said Matt Flechter, EGLE recycling market development specialist. 鈥淩ecycling is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do,鈥� said Flechter.
Highlights from a new EGLE-commissioned survey show that since EGLE鈥檚 2019 launch of the ongoing national award-winning 鈥淜now It Before You Throw It鈥� recycling education campaign featuring the聽Recycling Raccoon Squad:
- Three in 4 Michiganders report taking action and changing their recycling behavior.
- The number of Michiganders who know that recyclables should not be bagged in plastic when placed at curbside has more than doubled, from 14% to 36%.
- The number of Michiganders who recognize pizza boxes with a little grease are recyclable has almost doubled, from 26% pre-2019 to 47% now.
- Nearly 66% of Michiganders now know where to check recycling rules if needed.
- Michigan residents report they are recycling an average of 44% of their household waste, up from 38% pre-2019.
The EGLE survey of 1,000 Michigan residents was conducted August-September 2024.
The improved recycling performance is helping Michigan advance the goals of the聽MI Healthy Climate Plan, commissioned by Gov. Whitmer as a road map to a sustainable, prosperous, healthy, equitable, carbon-neutral Michigan economy by 2050. Carbon neutrality is the global science-based benchmark for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the most devastating and costly impacts of climate change.
Recycling in Michigan supports 72,500 jobs and contributes more than $17 billion a year to the state鈥檚 economy, according to an analysis by EGLE鈥檚 NextCycle Michigan Initiative. 鈥淩ecycling properly saves Michigan taxpayers money by increasing the value of recycled materials, supporting Michigan jobs and improving the health of the environment,鈥� Flechter said. 鈥淲e know Michiganders want to recycle the right way, and through our 鈥楰now It Before You Throw It鈥� campaign and recycling infrastructure investments, we are providing them with the tools to do just that.鈥�