Recycling Returns!

Program returns Monday; Hours change at Brooks site 
By Lola Harmon Ramsey

After a five week shut down, the Newaygo County Recycling drop off centers are set to reopen beginning Monday, May 4, 2020.  The closure began on March 27 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health concerns for the staff at the Kent County Material Recovery Facility and  local recycling staff.

With new social distancing rules and adequate personal protective equipment, both Kent County and local staff feel recycling can begin again in Newaygo County.

There is one significant change for the Newaygo County Recycling program at the Brooks Township site in the Newaygo area.  The containers at the site have now been placed in a fenced-in area on the original property.  This change was scheduled before the unexpected closure and not due to COVID-19.  Recyclers that use the Brooks Township site will now have to visit this site during their open hours which are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 9am-3pm.  This new schedule will help prevent the misuse and contamination that has plagued the Brooks location and other local recycling sites in the past.

Many residents have been storing their recyclables during this shut down.  Recycling rules still apply which means your items cannot stay in trash bags or any other plastic bags.  Plastic bags of any kind are not accepted in this program.  Please pour your items into the containers to ensure they are able to be recycled.  Items in bags cannot be accessed or sorted when they are secured in a bag.

Newaygo County Recycling is asking residents  to limit the loads being brought to the sites With the closure you may have a garage full, but so does everyone else.  The hauling company will be working hard to keep the sites from overflowing, but they cannot be at every site at once.  If a container is full please do not leave items next to the bin or on top of it.  These items fly away or end up in ditches instead of being properly recycled.  Break down your cardboard boxes so they are flat in the bin and always check the back of the recycling bin if the front seems full.  Sometimes there is a lot of room towards the backs of the containers.

Here are the locations and hours for the recycling drop-off centers in Newaygo County:

Fremont:  5510 56th Street, at the Fremont Mini Storage site.  Hours:  M-W-SAT, 9-12pm.

Garfield Township Hall:  7180 S Bingham, Newaygo, open 24/7.

Brooks Township:  490 Quarterline St, Newaygo. This site is now fenced with open hours.  Hours:  TUE-THU-SAT, 9-3pm.

Grant:  160 East State Street, Open 24/7.

White Cloud:  Behind City Hall, off Pine Hill Rd, Hours Mon-Sat 8am-4pm.
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Croton:  5600 East Elm Street (transfer station).  Open when the transfer station is open.