Recycling Update: No More Styro!

Photo by Lesly DeLaat

Styrofoam collection ends at Brooks Township  recycling site
By Ken DeLaat

Collection of polystyrene at the Newaygo recycling site has ceased.
Ongoing issues involving careless practices by some users of the program has created a situation leading to the demise of the only styrofoam collection site in the county.
“While the county strives to provide recycling  services to our citizens the continued misuse of the styrofoam bins has forced us to suspend and reevaluate any future considerations regarding collection of the material at this time,”  said Newaygo County Administrator Chris Wren.
The issue of styrofoam has been a dilemma for the county. There are few places anywhere willing to take the material and yet the county has been committed to try to limit the amount of polystyrene reaching area landfills.
That commitment has been put to the test by bins that have seen inappropriate material dropped off, items strewn about or crammed into the bags with no regard or respect for the collection site.
Recycling is expensive and does not pay for itself. Not even close. It is a service provided by the county and supported by funding from the county and the Fremont Area Community Foundation. While every very effort is made to maintain the bins and keep the site in some sense of order there are times when the input overwhelms these efforts.
The additional cost of supervised sites and more security due to abuse creates further financial burdens and while the county continues to strive to provide this valuable service a reduction in all recycling services may be part of the program in the near future.
For now recycling remains with the exception of styrofoam but users need to be informed as to what can and cannot be taken to the sites.
Please refer to the recycling guide in this link
http://www.cartright.net/Blank.html
and while educating yourself take the time to educate others.
Recycling is an investment. It will go a long way in determining what kind of environment we leave our children and grandchildren.
But we have to do it correctly.
Or we won’t be doing it at all.