GAYLORD — Otsego County residents do a pretty good job at recycling, sending over 1,200 tons of discarded materials per year for reuse or to be made into different products, according to Tara Jans, recycling coordinator for the Otsego Conservation District.
The holidays offer plenty of opportunities for recycling, including cardboard boxes, certain packaging materials and real Christmas trees.
"You can recycle wrapping paper and cards but they can't have metallic ink, foil, glitter or flocking on them," Jans said.
Bows and ribbons of any type are not recyclable, noted Jans.
Styrofoam packing material, except the packaging peanuts, can be recycled. Jans said the peanuts jam up single stream recycling units.
Holiday parties can also provide an opportunity for recycling, said Jans. Styrofoam plates can be recycled if they are washed off and have very little grease or staining along with styrofoam cups or plastic cups.
Plastic knives, forks and spoons are not recyclable, noted Jans.
"Christmas ornaments or bulbs are not recyclable. If you need to get rid of some, you could regift them or use them in an art project," said Jans.
Jans said other items that can be recycled this holiday season include Christmas lights, which can be dropped off at the Gaylord City Hall, 305 E. Main St., in the black barrel in the front foyer.
Residents of Gaylord, Bagley, and Livingston townships can have their real Christmas trees composted by taking the tree to the Gaylord DPW Yard, 102 E. 7th St. City of Gaylord residents may call (989) 732-5475 for a pick up of real trees.
Jans said many have asked about where do all of the recycled items go for processing. She said they don't end up in landfills, the ocean or overseas.
"Our recyclables are being recycled and repurposed right here in Michigan," she said.
"Our recycled corrugated cardboard and paper products go to WestRock, a global company. WestRock has manufacturing facilities in Canada and the U.S., including Michigan.They use the recycled paper and cardboard to make corrugated containers, paperboard, folding containers (takeout containers) in Battle Creek and Lansing," she said.
All of this is an example of what is referred to as the circular effect in which products are consumed, recycled, consumed again, and then recycled again within an area, said Jans.
"The circular effect for American Waste/GFL Environmental when it comes to Otsego County recyclables is around 99.99%, meaning almost all of recycled goods stay within Michigan to be recycled or repurposed," noted Jans.
Other examples include recycled metals like steel, tin, and aluminum.
"When metal is recycled it gets bought by companies like A&L Iron and Metal Company in Gaylord or Padnos in Traverse City, where the metal is then sold to (a) refining company and transported to their mill to be melted down. After it is melted, it's sold to a number of different companies to be repurposed," added Jans.
Plastics get recycled and repurposed by number, going in part to a company called Clean Tech, (based in Dundee) to get recycled into containers such as milk and water jugs or soap and laundry detergent containers.
"Other plastics get processed and refined to build different types of pre-engineered fuel or blended fuel. This happens at the American waste/GFL facility were they blend the plastics in the desired formula for the consumer. Pre-engineered fuels or blended fuels are growing in popularity and are helping to reduce plastics in landfills," said Jans.
Here are the five recycling locations in Otsego County:
- West: 71 Hayes Tower Road, behind the Hayes Township Hall.
- North: 621 Garfield St., northeast of the Vanderbilt Village Hall
- Central: 931 South Otsego Ave., near the Merchandise Outlet
- South: 247 Old State Road, across from the Otsego Lake Township Cemetery
- East: 2932 Rock Road, at the Charlton-Chester-Dover Transfer Station.