Media Release

For Release December 1, 2023

Contact:
Andi Tolzdorf, Director
231-348-0640

County Announces Waste Disposal, Recycling and Organics Rate Increases

January 1, 2024, Emmet County Department of Public Works (DPW) rates will increase at the Pleasantview Drop Off Center for organics, bulky recycling items, and garbage.

Emmet County DPW is responsible for covering program costs and ensuring a balanced budget without utilizing general fund taxpayer dollars for operations. This program provides a service to residents and businesses ensuring reasonable disposal options are available.

The model of the department takes into account the relationship between the costs of garbage relative to recycling. Through pricing, recycling can be incentivized over disposal. Bulky recycling items such as mattresses, rubble, and electronics are always less expensive to recycle than disposal in the landfill. Rate studies are conducted by the department to guarantee charges are competitive with other facilities while covering operating expenses.

As a stellar example, Emmet County DPW has partnered with Bay Area Recycling for Community (BARC) out of Kaleva and Traverse City to recycle mattresses. The cost to recycle for residents is $20-26 per mattress or box spring, whereas landfilling each of those items would cost $29 – 38. By recycling, not only are you saving money, but helping to mitigate the number of mattresses in the landfill; which is generally 400,000 per year in Michigan. BARC is able to separate each of the materials in your mattress and sell the commodities to be made into new products.

By increasing prices, this program will continue to provide services to the community without eliminating programs.

The Pleasantview Drop Off Center at 7363 Pleasantview Road in Harbor Springs is open six days a week and available to recycle over 60 daily and hard to recycle materials. Hours are 8-4 weekdays and 8-3 Saturdays. The facility is closed on Sundays and major holidays.

For a detailed list of price changes, please visit emmetrecycling.org or call 231-348-0640.