Antrim County Recycling Program

Providing convenient access for Antrim County residents and visitors.

Recycling information for all Antrim County residents and visitors: YES, thank you for recycling paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, and glass. NO, the following materials cannot be recycled: no bagged recyclables other than shredded paper or plastic bags; no food or liquid; no

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.

Preparing Recyclables
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.

Caps and labels can be left on items.

Materials that CAN be recycled in Antrim County:
Paper

newspaper
office paper (all colors)
envelopes
file folders
construction paper
kraft paper and envelopes
manila envelopes
magazines
phone books
brown paper bags

Cardboard

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

glass food and beverage containers, all colors

Plastic

plastic containers of all types with numbers 1-7 inside the recycling symbol, 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 or bring to the ACD office

Metal

metal cans (aluminum, steel), foil, and trays: must be clean and free of food
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:

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
NO shredded paper
NO tied bags of recyclables, use paper bags or reusable bins to dump your recycling
NO metallic gift wrapping or bags of any kind

Not sure about an item not mentioned above?
Try our Recycle Responsibly Search Bar:

For recycling info from company brands, please click here.