Antrim County Recycling Program
Providing convenient access for Antrim County residents and visitors.
THANK YOU for recycling! There are many environmental, community, and economic benefits to recycling.
Recycling guidelines and requirements depend on the capabilities of the equipment used at the recycling processing center. Since different processing sites have different types of equipment, guidelines often vary from one region to another. If you travel between two different counties, it is possible that items accepted in one location are not accepted at the other! That is why it is important to follow the guidelines posted at a particular site. When non-recyclable materials are added to the bins, the best-case scenario is that it becomes more costly to sort the contents; the worst-case scenario is that the entire load becomes contaminated and must be trashed. The guidelines provided on this page apply to all of the Antrim County recycling sites.
Recycling guidelines and requirements depend on the capabilities of the equipment used at the recycling processing center. Since different processing sites have different types of equipment, guidelines often vary from one region to another. If you travel between two different counties, it is possible that items accepted in one location are not accepted at the other! That is why it is important to follow the guidelines posted at a particular site. When non-recyclable materials are added to the bins, the best-case scenario is that it becomes more costly to sort the contents; the worst-case scenario is that the entire load becomes contaminated and must be trashed. The guidelines provided on this page apply to all of the Antrim County recycling sites.
Preparing Recyclables
Recyclables must be:
Recyclables must be:
- Dry
- Clean and free of food: remove all food and give other items a quick rinse.
- Empty: Items must be separate (not placed inside one another) to go through the sorting process.
- Loose: Do not put recyclables in bags; place items loose inside the bin, EXCEPT: shredded paper and single-use plastic grocery bags should be bagged.
Materials that CAN be recycled in Antrim County:
Paper
Paper
- newspaper
- office paper (all colors)
- envelopes
- file folders
- construction paper
- kraft paper and envelopes
- manila envelopes
- magazines
- phone books
- brown paper bags
- cardboard: must be flattened and dry
- pizza boxes: must be clean; remove and dispose of greasy portions
- boxboard and cereal boxes
- cartons, e.g., milk, juice, drink boxes
- freezer paperboard, e.g., ice cream and frozen food containers
- glass food and beverage containers, all colors
- plastic containers of all types (#1 PET, #2 HDPE, #3 V, #$ LDPE, #5 PP, #6 PS, #7 Other); e.g., bottles, jugs, tubs, and lids
- “clam shell” containers
- bulky plastic and toys, e.g., garden plastics, baskets, pails, buckets
- plastic film, e.g., grocery bags, bread bags, kitchen wrap: combine these items only in a plastic bag
- metal cans (aluminum, steel), foil, and trays: must be clean and free of food
- scrap metal
- EMPTY aerosol cans (except for those that contained paint or other hazardous materials)
Materials that CANNOT be recycled in Antrim County:
Please do not leave any of the following materials at Antrim County recycling sites:
Please do not leave any of the following materials at Antrim County recycling sites:
- NO batteries of any kind (instead, tape the terminals and bring them to the ACD office for special recycling)
- NO CDs, DVDs, or video tapes
- NO chains, cords, hoses, ropes, or tarps
- NO chip bags or pretzel bags
- NO credit cards
- NO diapers
- NO fluids
- NO foam packing peanuts or foam packing wrap. Note: foam egg cartons are acceptable.
- Foam products require special processing equipment. Bay Area Recycling for Community (Traverse City) is a local facility that can accept other foam products.
- NO glass mirrors, TVs, monitors, or window glass
- NO hazardous waste
- NO juice pouches
- NO light bulbs
- NO pet food bags
- NO marine shrink wrap
- NO medications
- NO paint (latex, oil-based, or any kind of stains)
- NO sharps
Not sure about an item not mentioned above?
Try our Recycle Responsibly Search Bar:
For recycling info from company brands, please click here.