Westland has tried to reduce its impact on the environment in recent years, and it's do-it-yourself recycling center plays a big role in recycling success. The outdoor facility, at 37137 Marquette, allows residents who don't live in traditional houses to recycle and creates a drop-off zone for items not recycled at the curb.
"The recycling center helps our community recycling efforts in two ways," Mayor Bill Wild said in an email. "First, it gives residents in apartments, condominiums and local businesses that aren’t part of the curbside recycling program assess to single-stream recycling. Second, it allows us a collection site for other recyclable items that aren’t collected at the curb (like) glass, steel, oil, appliances, clothing and batteries.
"The site is very well used and plays a big part in keeping the community’s recyclables out of the landfill."
The city recently used a $50,000 grant from Environmental Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to improve the site. Updates include improved signage, paving and lighting.
"Certainly the paved surface is the biggest improvement as the site was known for being muddy in the past," Wild said. "The improved signage, lighting and flow has been improved for customers and for the vendors that service the site."
All materials collected at the site are either hauled away by a recycling processor or used to generate revenue for the city. The city sells the steel, appliances and clothing collected at the center.
Wild said residents who can use the curbside recycling program, which restarted in July 2020, have recycled near 3,000 tons in the last year. Since the city started recycling in 2009, its kept 50,000 tons of recyclable material out of landfills.
"While we originally had an issue with contaminated loads early on, contaminated loads are down 85% from this time last year," Wild said. "I believe the city’s educational outreach and ongoing efforts have been beneficial."
Wild is hopeful that impact will continue, and the city recently received another EGLE grant worth $100,000 to continue its efforts in encouraging residents to recycle.