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RECYCLING and SOLID WASTE
DEPARTMENT
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| Location / Address |
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Lower Level in Planning Dept.
Government Center
448 Court Place
Beulah, MI 49617 |
Office Hours |
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Monday — Friday
8:00 a.m. to noon
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Office hours include field
work. Please leave a message
on voice mail and your call
will be returned. |
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Services Offered
- 24 / 7 Residential Recycling
- Household Hazardous Waste Collections
- Electronics Collections
- Community Educational Programs
- Business Cardboard Recycling Services
Description
Benzie County is committed to environmental health through recycling opportunities,
household hazardous waste & electronic equipment collections, and educational
programs. The Recycling Program provides alternatives to residents and businesses
to properly dispose of solid waste and keep it out of the landfill whenever possible.
Recycling Sites – Three recycling containers are at each site. One bin accepts
flat cardboard and paper items. One bin accepts clean #1, #2 & #5 plastic containers
and tin & aluminum cans. One bin accepts glass bottles and jars (clear &
colored glass). Barrels at each site are for clean #2 plastic shopping bags.
Never put anything else inside a recycling bin and never leave anything on the ground.
- Almira Township Park on Ole’ White Road
- Benzonia at Sail Inn property on US 31
- Beulah at Village Municipal Parking Lot
- Frankfort at Glen’s Market
- Honor at the Road Commission on US 31
- Lake Ann Elementary School on Bronson Lake Road
- Thompsonville on Lindy Road @ CO 669
Materials Accepted – (all must be CLEAN) at the above Recycling Sites:
- Flat Cardboard and paper
- Clear and colored glass bottles
- Plastic containers - #1, #2 & #5 ONLY
- Aluminum containers
- Tin cans
- #2 Plastic bags in BARRELS ONLY
About the Benzie County Solid Waste Advisory Committee
The mission of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) is to develop and implement
a cost effective and sustainable recycling, solid waste and hazardous waste management
strategy that will meet or exceed local and state goals and minimize adverse effects
on public health and the environment for the current and future residents of Benzie
County.
The Solid Waste Advisory Committee is comprised of Mary Pitcher, Jane Schultz, Dawn
Campeau, Myra Elias, James Hanley, Ray Kadlec, Todd Warren, Ronn Beyette, Martin
Metheringham, and Dale Flaherty. This committee meets quarterly to address the goals
and objectives established in the county's solid waste plan. Recommendations of operation
are made by the SWAC to the Benzie County Board of Commissioners for further action.
The Solid Waste Department is pleased to announce that 100% participation in the
Benzie County 24/7 Recycling Program has been achieved. There are seven 24/7 recycling
sites located throughout Benzie County for residential recycling.
Household Hazardous Waste Collections and Electronics Collections are included in
the recycling program.
Collection Dates for 2009:
Mark your calendar for 2009 collections of miscellaneous items not accepted at
recycling sites. These collections will include
Styrofoam, tires, paper shredding, & electronics and are in addition to the two
household hazardous waste (HHW) collections. Tires & some electronics may require
a fee.
- January 3rd @ Beulah Government Center — Styrofoam (Holiday Packaging)
- May 2nd @ Almira Township Park — HHW & Other Misc.
- June 27th @ Frankfort School — Misc. (No HHW)
- August 8th @ Honor Road Comm. — HHW & Other Misc.
- October 3rd @ Beulah Government Cntr. — Misc. (No HHW)
All collections are on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED
for HHW Collections. Please email
or call 882-0554 to request a Hazardous Waste Brochure that will provide details
about the 2009 collections and appointment information.
Packaging Corporation of America, Inc. in Manistee provides three cardboard recycling
trailers at Frankfort High School, Benzie County Central High School and Betsie Valley
Elementary School to allow businesses the opportunity to recycle. Students and community
groups benefit financially from cardboard collected at these trailers.
Volunteers are welcome to become involved in the Benzie County 24/7 Recycling Program.
Contact Recycling Coordinator, Marlene Wood-Zylstra at 882-0554 to find out how you
can become a recycling volunteer.
“Cash for Cardboard” Program
A community program to collect and recycle corrugated cardboard is open 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week at Frankfort High School, Benzie Central High School & Betsie
Valley Elementary School. Packaging Corporation of America in Manistee provides the
trailers and pays students & community groups $50 per ton for cardboard collected
at these locations. Businesses, contractors & residents are encouraged to support
the youth of Benzie County by bringing clean, flat, corrugated cardboard to these
trailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: WHO pays for the recycling program?

A: Households in Benzie County pay an annual fee for recycling and hazardous
waste collections. This is not a tax. It is a recycling surcharge fee. Businesses
do not pay this fee; only households pay for the recycling program and only households
may use it.
Q: WHAT can be recycled in the program?

A: Households can recycle tin and aluminum containers, all colors of glass
bottles and jars, #1, #2 & #5 plastic bottles and jars, paper & flat cardboard
and #2 plastic shopping bags at any of the 24 / 7 recycling drop off sites. Everything
must be rinsed and free from food residue.
Q: WHERE are the recycling sites located?

A: There are seven 24 / 7 recycling drop off sites throughout Benzie County:
Glen’s Market in Frankfort, Sail Inn in Benzonia, Municipal Parking Lot in Beulah,
Road Commission in Honor, Lake Ann Elementary School on Bronson Lake Road (Inland
Twp), Village Property in Thompsonville (669 & Lindy Road), and Almira Township
Park.
Q: WHO may recycle at these sites?

A: Benzie County Residents may use any of the recycling sites. No commercial
use or out of county use is permitted.
Q: WHY can’t more items be recycled?

A: We contract for services to transport and process recyclables. There are
high transportation costs and processing charges involved in these contractual agreements.
We are contractually limited to what is accepted. Look on the bottom of plastic containers
for the # of plastic that is listed inside the recycling logo. Recycling is not meant
to take the place of waste disposal, but to reduce the amount that goes to the landfill.
Q: WHAT happens if the wrong items are placed inside the bin?

A: The bin is weighed before it is emptied. We pay for the total weight of
the bin’s contents. If non-recyclables are inside we pay for the weight before it
goes into the landfill. The bottom line is that it costs us money and isn’t getting
recycled. Wrong items are considered contamination.
Q: HOW can I save money by recycling?

A: When shopping, buy items that are in recyclable containers, buy in large
quantities for less packaging, pass by disposable items for reusable items. You can
reduce your trash disposal costs by using budget bags for waste and recycle whatever
you can in this program.
Q: WHAT about Styrofoam?

A: Styrofoam usually has the #6 inside the recycling logo. This # is not acceptable
in our recycling program. Don’t put Styrofoam in any of the recycling bins. Store
your Styrofoam until a collection is held. There are 5 collections scheduled throughout
the year where you can recycle your Styrofoam.
Q: DO we profit from any of the marketed recyclables?

A: The recycling program does not profit from collected recyclables. They
must be transported, sorted, baled and marketed by a recovery facility. Benzie County
does not have a recycling facility. Our main purpose is to conserve natural resources
and keep recyclables out of the landfill. The cardboard program at the schools profit
from recycling. Students receive $50 per ton from Packaging Corporation of America
for cardboard collected at the schools.
Fees
An annual recycling fee is charged per household. The annual fee for 2009 is $19.00
per household. This fee covers unlimited use of 24 / 7 recycling drop off sites and
household hazardous waste collections.
Documents
Benzie County Recycling Program
Brochure (PDF document)
Household Hazardous Waste Report
- 2008 Totals (PDF document)
How to safely dispose of household
hazardous waste (PDF document)
Summer Recycling Tips (PDF
document)
Related Web Links
Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality
TV Converter Box Coupon Program
— For those using an antenna and analog TV to be ready for the February 17, 2009
switch to digital television.
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