HOME Commissioners Departments... Committees Services Documents Forms Projects Links			RECYCLING and SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT Contact Information Phone:  231-882-0554 Email Us Personnel   Marlene Wood-Zylstra — Coordinator Location / Address Lower Level in Planning Dept. Government Center 448 Court Place Beulah, MI 49617 Office Hours   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. Services Offered 24 / 7 Residential Recycling Household Hazardous Waste Collections Electronics, Tires & Styrofoam Collections Community Educational Programs Business Cardboard Recycling Services Green Benzie Business Recycling Initiative 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 ONLY. One bin accepts clean #1, #2 & #5 plastic containers and tin & aluminum food & beverage cans, aluminum foil, pie tins, and containers ONLY. One bin accepts glass bottles and jars (clear & colored glass) ONLY. Barrels at each site are for clean #2 plastic shopping bags ONLY. Never put anything else inside a recycling bin and never leave anything on the ground. Never put plastic bags in a green recycling bin. Please take the time to read the signs and put proper items into proper bins. Almira Township Park on Ole’ White Road Benzonia at Save-A-Lot Shopping Center on US 31 Beulah at Village Municipal Parking Lot Frankfort at 404 Parkview Lane (Industrial Park) 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 food and beverage items (foil, pie tins, etc.) Metal food and beverage containers #2 Plastic bags in BARRELS ONLY Materials NOT Accepted: Household Trash, Building Materials, Construction Waste, Styrofoam, Bubble Wrap, Plastic Tarps, Shrink Wrap, Vinyl Siding, Paint Cans, Clothes Hangers, Fencing, wire, Loose Plastic (chip bags, food wrappers, shower curtains) Windows, Ceramics, Light Bulbs, Porcelain, Tools, Food, Clothing, Shoes, Liquids, Patio Furniture, Toys, 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, Todd Warren, Dale Flaherty, Ronn Beyette and Bruce Ogilvie. This dedicated committee meets quarterly to address the goals and objectives established in the Benzie County Solid Waste Plan. Recommendations of operation are made by the SWAC to the Benzie County Board of Commissioners for approval and action. The SWAC recently lost a devoted member and dear friend, Jim Hanley. He will be greatly missed. A memorial fund has been established to honor Jim, with contributions going toward providing permanent signage at recycling sites to better educate and inform the recycling public. These signs will serve as a permanent reminder of Jim’s dedication to the recycling program at his favorite meeting places…the recycling sites! Contributions to the Jim Hanley Memorial Fund may be made to the Benzie County Solid Waste Department, 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617. The Hanley Family will be informed of all memorial contributions received. The SWAC members can be credited for successfully achieving 100% participation in Benzie County’s 24/7 Recycling Program, developing the “Green Benzie Business Recycling Initiative” which allows businesses to subscribe to the residential program by permit, and reaching the goal of 25% waste diversion rate set in the Solid Waste Plan! We are looking for new members to share the responsibility of Benzie County’s future environmental health through solid waste alternatives. If you are interested in working towards keeping Benzie County clean, healthy, beautiful and green, please join the SWAC by contacting the Benzie County Clerk, 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617. Collection Dates for 2010: Mark your calendar for 2010 collections to recycle and/or properly dispose of items not accepted at recycling sites.  These collections include Styrofoam, tires, paper shredding, & electronics and household hazardous waste (HHW).  Tires & some electronics will require a fee. January 9th @ Beulah Government Center – Styrofoam (Holiday Packaging) April 22nd @ Benzie Resource Center on M115 – Clean Out Your Files May 22nd @ Frankfort Recycling Site – HHW & Styrofoam, Tires, Computers, Electronics August 7th @ Honor Road Commission – HHW & Styrofoam, Tires, Computers, Electronics All collections are on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED for HHW Collections Please email email or call 882-0554 to request a Hazardous Waste Brochure that will provide details about the 2010 collections and appointment information. Undecorated Holiday Christmas Trees can be disposed of at Smitty’s Tree Service @ 2741 BenzieHwy, Benzonia (across from Timberline Shell) throughout the month of January. Follow the signs to drop off location at the back of the property. 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. Fees An annual recycling fee is charged per household. The annual fee for 2010 is $19.00 per household. This fee covers unlimited use of 24 / 7 recycling drop off sites and household hazardous waste collections. Documents Collection Statistics (PDF document) Frequently Asked Questions (PDF document) Hazardous Waste Brochure (PDF document) Household Savings (PDF document) NEWS FLASH (PDF document) Recycling Program Brochure (PDF document) Related Web Links Earth911.com - Find Recycling Centers and Learn How To Recycle -- Make every day Earth Day Household Products Database - Health and Safety Information on Household Products -- Find out health and safety information on household products you use everyday. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Michigan Recycling Coalition Recycle Recovery -- Grand Traverse Recycling Web site shows their new ‘Take It Back’ Program. Traverse City businesses are signing up to help take back many items. Shoppers from Benzie County may take advantage of this program. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [ Top Of Page ] Note: To view the PDF documents on this page, Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed. If you do not already have it, you can get it free from Adobe. 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