Kent County single-stream recycling center to break ground

Single-stream recycling in a state-of-the-art facility is on its way to Kent County. Grand Rapids leaders expect the numbers of households that recycle to double after the facility is completed.

According to excerpts from the story:

Home recycling is about to get hassle-free in Kent County. The county breaks ground Aug. 20 on a recycling center that will allow homeowners to dump materials into one bin instead of separating, as most participants do, their paper, plastic, glass and tin. The $12.5 million project, expected to be completed by June, will create a "single stream" facility at 977 Wealthy St. SW in Grand Rapids.

County officials expect it to eventually double the 15,000 tons of materials they recycle each year. Currently, the recyclables all have to be hand-sorted, said Commissioner Art Tanis, chairman of the public works board.

"With the new system, we'll do 18 tons an hour mechanically, and the hand-picking will be very minimal." Tanis said he envisions a day when folks will recycle more than they throw away. If Grand Rapids officials have anything do with it, that day will be sooner rather than later within the city limits.

Read the complete story here.


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