Ypsilanti Township will receive an investment to boost its recycling program.

Recipients include Ann Arbor Public Schools, Recycle Ann Arbor, city of Ypsilanti, Dexter Community Schools, Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority and Washtenaw Regional Resource Management Authority. The department’s support of new research, education and recycling activities in Washtenaw County comes as Michigan sees an increase in curbside recycling as residents work from home, according to a release from EGLE. In addition to the $1.58 million in Washtenaw County grants, EGLE will build on the state-wide Know It Before You Throw It recycling education campaign, which launched last year. Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority (WWRA) was awarded $458,370 to purchase sorting equipment and a new truck. Another goal of the Washtenaw County funding is to reduce the number of contaminated recyclables that end up in recycling bins by providing educational messaging.

ANN ARBOR – Recycle Ann Arbor was selected by the American Beverage Association to receive an $800,000 investment under its Every Bottle Back initiative to rebuild and reopen the city’s shuttered recycling facility. The closure of the city’s Materials Recovery Facility in 2016 subsequently diverted the processing of recyclable materials -- including the industry’s 100% recyclable polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles --across state lines. “Local processing of recyclables brings a range of environmental, economic, and social benefits, creating a regional hub that will allow recycling to flourish,” Bryan Ukena, CEO of Recycle Ann Arbor said in a statement. Recycle Ann Arbor looks forward to bringing its 42 years of experience as a mission-based community recycler to the collaboration.”✉ Like what you’re reading? Overall, the beverage industry has committed to funding 11 initial projects like the reopening of the Ann Arbor recycling facility under Every Bottle Back to ensure its bottles are properly remade instead of polluting beaches, lakes or ending up in landfills.