First-ever recycling drop-off center opens in Lansing

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) — On Friday, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) unveiled the city’s first-ever recycling drop-off center.

“When stuff doesn’t end up properly disposed, it pollutes our waters, it pollutes our streets, no one likes to see trash,” said EGLE Spokesperson Jeff Johnston.

This comes in part due to Mayor Schor’s self-proclaimed “aggressive sustainability plan.”

He says the officials in Lansing “want to make sure what [they’re] doing is friendly to the earth.” They also want to see recycling numbers increase in the city. Part of that, Mayor Schor says, is giving people options outside of curbside recycling pickup, like this drop-off center.

The center costs nearly $620,000 and is supported through a $490,000 EGLE Recycling Infrastructure Grant, which covered the costs of setting up the center. The remaining costs are already built into the recycling budget for the city, according to Mayor Schor, meaning this center comes at no extra charge to users.

Now, residents in Lansing and surrounding areas can use this center to make recycling more accessible.

“It’s a convenience, now you can put it in a bag, put it in your trunk. If you’re going to work, if you’re going to the ballgame, if you’re going to the grocery store, you can stop right here,” Mayor Schor said.

Residents can now discard cardboard, boxboard, metal, plastic, styrofoam, and even compost at the drop-off center.

Lori Thomas, Lansing’s sustainability manager, said she’s looking forward to the future, especially when it comes to Styrofoam, since it cannot be recycled curbside.

With the success of other drop-off sites in the city, all parties involved are expecting the new facility to see a lot of use.

The center is located at 601 E. South Street in Lansing.

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