By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
The Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) announced this week that the City of Kentwood recycling drop-off station located at the Kentwood Public Works Facility will close June 30, but the county also urged residents to explore curbside recycling options available in the city.
One of those options — specifically for apartments, condominiums or other multifamily dwellings — includes a county grant program for property owners/managers to add recycling to their trash service.
“With improved access to curbside recycling in southern Kent County over the past decade and increasing operational cost of public drop off sites, we are closing the Kentwood recycling drop-off station so that we can focus on recycling education and material processing provided at the Kent County Recycling & Education Center,” Dar Baas, Kent County DPW director, said in a Monday, April 29, statement. “We understand this change may create an inconvenience for some residents. Reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills continues to be our top priority and we encourage residents to add curbside recycling to their trash service.”
For residents in apartments, condominiums or other multifamily dwellings impacted by the closure, Kent County also announced a grant program for property managers to include recycling for tenants. Contact Kent County DPW (recycle@kentcountymi.gov or 616-632-7920) to inquire about this program.
According to supplied material, this closure is not related to global recycling markets or China’s decision to stop importing recyclables. Kent County maintains strong outlets for sorted recyclables in the Midwest and Canada.
Kent County DPW continues to provide drop-off recycling stations at the following:
Recycling and Education Center, 977 Wealthy St. SW, Grand Rapids, which is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., but closed holidays.
North Kent Recycling & Waste Center, 2908 Ten Mile Road, Rockford, which is open Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., but closed holidays.
The Kent County DPW operated a recycling drop-off station at Kentwood Public Works Facility at 5068 Breton Road in Kentwood under a 5-year agreement beginning in 2007, providing recycling for residents when access to curbside collection service was limited or they lived where a property manager contracts for collection services.
Kent County continued to operate the site beyond the initial agreement until it was determined that access to on-site or curbside recycling was widely available. Residents affected by the closure should contact their local waste hauler or inquire with their property manager for services and pricing.
For additional information on how and where to properly dispose of materials in Kent County, visit reimaginetrash.org .
