NEW map of drop-off locations is available. Open document below for printing or viewing. Six drop off sites were strategically located around the county. The Boyne City & Charlevoix sites are open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Although these sites are the most convenient for recyclers, they are the most frustrating for volunteers. Scheduling the bins to be emptied can be tricky. A site checked in the morning with plenty of room could be full by that night. If you stop to drop off your recyclables and the bins are full, please come back the next day and do not leave your stuff piled up outside the bins. We realize it's inconvenient (after you've loaded up your vehicle and made the effort to recycle) and we apologize. Please note: leaving garbage, trash and unaccepted items at the recycling sites is a "ticket waiting to happen". Beaver Island Transfer Station is located at 36770 East Side Drive, Beaver Island. Summer hours: Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Winter hours: Monday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Boyne City, Charlevoix County Road Commission located at 1251 Boyne Avenue, Boyne City. Hours: 24 hours/day, 7 days/week Boyne Valley Township located on Addis Road, west off US 131. Summer hours: Wednesday 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Winter hours: Wednesday 2 p.m. - dusk Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Charlevoix, Sheriff's Department located at 1000 Grant Street, Charlevoix. Hours: 24 hours/day, 7 days/week East Jordan Transfer Station located at the end of Nichols Street in East Jordan. Hours: Tuesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Melrose Township Transfer Station located west of Clarion Village, across from the Marathon Station. Hours: Monday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. June/July/August only Friday 1 - 2 p.m.

Boyne City students demonstrate how much space is wasted when cans are not flattened before recycling.
NEW - Handy Directory available!!!Check out the NEW, Charlevoix County Environmental Resources Directory full of helpful information on what to do with just about anything. Remember - REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!! Click here: Environmental Resources Directory

NOTE: Items accepted DIFFER from site to site.

NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES & BAGS: Includes: Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, soft & hard cover books, jigsaw puzzles, brown paper bags AND stretchy plastic bags.

NEW ~ Stretchy plastic bags (please follow instructions) put in NEWSPAPER bin: Includes: grocery & shopping bags, bread bags, plastic bundling wrap from bundles of toilet paper, paper towels, or case of water bottles. Bags must be clean & dry!!
CRAM MANY BAGS into one bag & tie closed!
Accepted at all locations except Beaver Island

GLASS: Includes CLEAR & COLORED glass bottles & jars.
Accepted at all locations. Glass, tin & plastic containers can all be mixed together.

TIN & ALUMINUM: Includes: metal lids, tin & aluminum cans, foil & trays.
Accepted at all locations. Glass, tin & plastic containers can all be mixed together.

MIXED Containers: Includes beverage cartons (juice cartons, milk-type cartons, soup & broth boxes), plastic bottles, jugs & jars, plastic clamshells & trays, plastic tubs & cups, cookie, cracker & small deli trays, food storage containers (Tupperware).
Accepted at all locations. Glass, tin & plastic containers can all be mixed together.

CARDBOARD ONLY BIN: Includes: Corrugated & non-corrugated cardboard, ceral boxes, tissue boxes, toilet paper tubes, refrigerated & frozen food boxes, cardboard egg cartons, cardboard quart produce cartons, brown paper bags. CARDBOARD ONLY in cardboard bins.
Accepted at all locations. NOTE: There are cardboard compactors located at the Boyne City & Charlevoix recycling sites, the East Jordan Transfer Station and the Melrose Township site (businesses are encouraged to use the compactors rather than the bins)

OFFICE PAPER ONLY BIN: Includes: Office Paper Plus junk mail, file folders, envelopes.
Accepted at all sites except Boyne Valley Township. NOTE: CONTAMINATION is the biggest problem with collecting office paper plus. Bins are well marked that NO NEWSPAPERS or BOOKS are allowed. Please help by doing your part to make sure the appropriate bins are used. Thank you very much!


Household Alkaline batteries are accepted at: True Value in East Jordan; Radio Shack in Boyne City & Charlevoix; Charlevoix Conservation District in Boyne City; Galway Bay Green Grocer in Charlevoix and the Beaver Island Transfer Station. Please don't bring to the drop-off sites. Bring to HHHW collections or locations listed above.

To provide a means for Charlevoix County residents to properly dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHHW), two Drop-Off Days are held per year. All hazardous materials are handled by Drug & Laboratory Disposal and are treated and/or processed for disposal and stored in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. If you are interested in the final destination of these materials, refer to the Certificate of Treatment below.

2013 dates have been set.
This June 7th, FRIDAY evening hours will be available for dropping off HHHW items. Time slots will be between 5:00 and 7:45 p.m.

Then June 8th, Saturday between 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. HHHW items can be dropped off. Call for a time slot & the event location.

Contact Kelly at 231.582.6193 to make an appointment or for more information.

Also: Electronics WILL BE accepted for FREE at both collections.


The very 1st HHHW Day was held September 14, 2002 at the Road Commission garage in Boyne City. In 2003 electronics were included in the collection. Household Hazardous Waste collected to-date (thru September 2008) = 321,985 pounds! HHHW Drop-Off Days have become a very popular event! Participants comments consistently demonstrate that the service is very much appreciated.

A big part of the credit for the success of the program must go to the volunteers who work to schedule appointments, survey participants, direct traffic and unload vehicles. Their enthusiasm makes Drop-Off Days pleasant for everyone involved.

Available below are several informational sheets pertaining to household hazardous waste. Please print a copy for future reference.

More detailed information pertaining to HHHW Drop-off Days and pictures from past events are available on our Household Hazardous Waste page located at: http://www.charlevoixcounty.org/govern0348.asp

The three R's: Recycle - Reduce - Reuse
By recycling you can reduce your garbage bill. Reduce the amount of trash by recycling and reusing things. Examples: Use a lunch box instead of paper bags; Use a plate & cup you can wash instead of paper plates & cups; Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones; Turn something old into something new with CRAFTS! Give others the clothes, toys, and books you no longer use.


Get into the habit of flattening items before recycling. Reducing the size of the object, reduces wasted space in the bins, thus reducing the trips made to empty the bins & saving money.
Thank you!


HOW TO PREPARE YOUR RECYCLABLES
Newspapers - you can use brown paper bags to bundle the papers. Flyers & slick inserts that come with the newspapers can also be included in this bin along with magazines, catalogs, phone books, soft & hard cover books, and jigsaw puzzles. NO wet or yellowed paper, NO office paper or envelopes (they go in the office paper bin). NO STYROFOAM!

NEW!!! Stretchy Plastic Bags - please follow directions & put in with the newspapers. Bags must be clean & dry. Cram many bags into one bag & tied closed. IMPORTANT: They must be stretchy.
NO STYROFOAM, NO loose plastic bags, NO cereal box liners, cling wrap or shiny potato chip-type bags. 

Mixed Containers - Please rinse & flatten the best you can. Please place in bins loosely, not left in bags. Includes: beverage cartons (juice cartons, milk-type cartons, soup & broth boxes), plastic bottles, jugs & jars, plastic clamshells & trays, plastic tubs & cups, cookie, cracker & small deli trays, food storage containers (Tupperware). NOW - glass, tin & plastic containers can all be mixed together. NO STYROFOAM, NO juice pouches or large catering trays, NO plastic toys or furniture, NO plastic buckets.
Tin & aluminum, foil & trays - Rinse and flatten as much as possible. Foil doesn't have to be perfectly clean, but shouldn't have pieces of food remaining on it. NOW - glass, tin & plastic containers can all be mixed together.
NO STYROFOAM, NO aerosol cans or propane tanks.

GLASS clear & colored- Please rinse out bottles & jars.
NOW - glass, tin & plastic containers can all be mixed together. NO STYROFOAM, NO light bulbs, NO window glass, or glass dishes.

Cardboard - Break down boxes before depositing in bin. Use large opening on the end of the cardboard bin for oversized boxes. Brown paper bags are recycled with cardboard. ONLY cardboard in the cardboard bins please.
NO waxed produce boxes. NO STYROFOAM or packing materials.

Office paper plus - Remove CDs, credit cards and other non-paper items from junk mail before recycling. No need to remove envelopes with plastic windows, or stickers, rubber bands, sicky notes, mailing lbaels, staples, paper clips, or tape.
NO STYROFOAM, NO kraft envelopes (also called "manila" envelopes); NO construction paper or boldly colored office paper; NO padded envelopes; NO bound documents.

Alkaline batteries - dispose of properly on HHHW Day, or leave at these other locations: Charlevoix Conservation District Office, Boyne City; Radio Shack, Boyne City & Charlevoix; True Value in East Jordan; Galway Bay Green Grocer in Charlevoix and the Beaver Island Transfer Station.

The committee meets monthly (3rd Wednesday)at various locations around the county. Check with the County Clerk's office for details, or feel free to contact any committee member.

2013 Committee Meeting Schedule:

January 16 - was in Boyne City 1:00 p.m.

February 20 - Charlevoix, Pine Lake Room, County Bldg. 1:00 p.m.

March 20 - East Jordan, City Hall 1:00 p.m.

April 17 - Melrose Township Hall 1:00 p.m.

May 15 - Boyne Valley Township Hall 1:00 p.m.

June 19 - Boyne City, City Hall 1:00 p.m.

July 17 - Charlevoix, County Bldg. 1:00 p.m.

August 21 - East Jordan, City Hall 1:00 p.m.

September 18 - Melrose Township Hall 1:00 p.m.

October 16 - Boyne Valley Township Hall 1:00 p.m.

November 20 - Boyne City, City Hall 1:00 p.m.

December 18 - Charlevoix, County Bldg. 1:00 p.m.

Recycling Committee Contact information:
Chair: Nancy Ferguson, 231.547.2285

Vice-Chair: Michele Hewitt, 231.582.0335

Secretary: Kelly Martin, 231.582.6193

Michelle Rick-Biddick, 231.547.4369

Mike Heaton, 231.549.3314
Chris Yonker, 231.536.3381

Diane Gustin, 231.547.0606

Commissioner: Larry Sullivan, 231.547.5415

Department Head: Frank Shaler, 231-675-1154

One committee member took these pictures to show why you should FLATTEN ITEMS before recycling. Unsmashed items take up more space and increase hauling costs. The proof is in the back of this Jeep Liberty. Please help keep costs down and flatten items before depositing in the bins. Thank you.

October 2002 - the Charlevoix County Recycling Program purchased a cardboard compactor & located it at the East Jordan Transfer Station.
In 2006, another compactor was purchased and located at the Melrose Township site, as the compactors require supervision (these are both staffed sites).

Businesses are encouraged to use the compactors rather than the cardboard bins located at the recycling sites.

In fact, the Committee would like to thank the following businesses known to be using the compactor: Seeley's Printing Service (CX); Rainbow Shop (CX); Swan Valley Marina (EJ); Ace Hardware (BC); East Jordan Cooperative (EJ); NAPA Auto Parts (CX); Bike Fix (BC); Computer Center (EJ); Jordan Inn (EJ); True Value (BC).

F.Y.I.: The first dump of the cardboard compactor weighed 14 tons. As a taxpayer you should appreciate the fact that recycling cardboard also generates a return based on the current market rate for recycled cardboard.
The East Jordan site is open: Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Melrose Township recycling site is open: Monday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.& Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..

NEW 2012 - cardboard compactors in Boyne City & Charlevoix

The recycling program purchased two more cardboard compactors last year for use at the Boyne City and (new) Charlevoix sites. 

The Boyne City recycling drop-off site now has an attendant on duty for operating the compactor, keeping the site clean and to assist recyclers. His hours are 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Businesses are encouraged to recycle their cardboard during these times. Thank you!

The Charlevoix recycling drop-off site now has an attendant on duty as well. His hours are 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Business are encouraged to recycle their cardboard during these times. Thank you!

NOTE: In August, photo-eyes were installed on the Boyne City & Charlevoix compactors. Stay tuned for more information.

November 2002 - Household alkaline battery drop-off sites were established to collect used batteries between HHHW Drop-off Days.

Locations include:
Conservation District Office, 303 North Street, Boyne City
Radio Shack, 108 Water Street, Boyne City
Radio Shack, 06520 M-66 Hwy., Charlevoix
East Jordan True Value, 201 Mill Street, East Jordan

Beaver Island Transfer Station

NEW - Ace Hardware, M-66, Charlevoix

NEW - Charlevoix County Building

All of the recyclables collected by the Charlevoix County Recycling Program are hauled to the Emmet County recycling facility near Harbor Springs.

Recyclable Materials Collected :
Since the first full year (2001) - December 2008:
11,804,700 lbs. Newspaper (this also includes magazines and phone books)
9,441,440 lbs. Cardboard (this also includes greyboard and paper bags)
1,536,300 lbs. Glass-Clear
709,100 lbs. Tin, Aluminum, Steel cans
754,005 lbs. Plastic (#1 and #2 plastic jugs, bottles, jars)
426,600 lbs. Glass-Colored
372,600 lbs. Office paper

Estimated Resource Savings:
Based on average energy use figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recycling by Charlevoix County residents in 2008 saved over 23,126 billion BTUs of energy - enough to power 220 households for a year.

Recycling reduces pollution from extraction and manufacturing processes. In 2008, Charlevoix County recycling prevented an estimated 1,909 tons of emissions to the air and 7.1 tons of emissions to water resources. Also, Charlevoix County recycling caused an estimated reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions of 1,284 Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent (MTCE), roughly the amount that would be emitted by 969 passenger cars in a year.

From the 1,201.66 tons of newspaper, other paper products, and cardboard recycled by Charlevoix County in 2008, 12,049 trees were saved.

What becomes of the recyclable materials collected?
Cardboard & Boxboard: Shipped to mills in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Products made: cereal board, liner board, and medium (fluted portion of corrugated cardboard).
Newspaper, Catalogs and Magazines: Shipped to mills in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Canada. Products made: cereal board, newspaper, insulation, and mulch (green lawn spray).
Office Paper: Shipped to mills in Wisconsin. Products made: tissue, pulp for writing and copy paper.
Cardstock: Shipped to mills in Michigan and Wisconsin. Products made: tissue, cereal board, and pulp for writing and copy paper.
Phone Books: Shipped to mills in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. Products made: newspaper, insulation, and mulch.
Hard Cover Books: Shipped to mills in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. Products made: Insulation and mulch.
Companies that use recycled paper: International Paper, Georgia Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, Caraustar, Kimberly Clark (Kleenex), Packaging Corporation of America.
Plastics (#1 & #2): Shipped to Clean Tech/Plasti-Pak, Dundee, Michigan. Products made: plastic water bottles & jugs for laundry detergents and other cleaners.
Steel/Tin Cans: Shipped to East Jordan Iron Works, East Jordan, Michigan. Products made: fire hydrants, utility/manhole covers, and large truck brake drums.
Aluminum: Sold to scrap dealers, who then sell to others in the market. Products made: window frames, car and airplane parts, and aluminum cans.
Clear Glass: Shipped to Glass Recyclers, Inc., Dearborn, Michigan. Product made: glass bottles.
Colored Glass: Shipped to EPI Concrete Products, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Product made: used in making concrete blocks.
Electronics: Shipped to Classic Computer Recovery, Inc., Garden City, Michigan. Products made: dismantled, reusable parts are reused, lead glass used to make new lead glass, plastics used to make new plastic, etc.
Scrap Rubble: Shipped to Harbor Springs Excavating, Inc., Harbor Springs, Michigan. Products made: used to make concrete, shale for roads.
Scrap Wood: is ground to make mulch and sold at the Drop-Off Center.
Tires: Shipped to CM Rubber Technologies, Inc., Coleman, Michigan. Products made: landscaping mulch, crumb rubber, 2" drainfield chip, rarely burned as fuel.
Used Motor Oil: Shipped by Crystal Flash. Product: burned as fuel.

This information was compiled Winter 2008

Charlevoix County Recycling Committee member Michelle Rick-Biddick is kept busy giving presentations to several area schools about recycling. The presentation includes a hands-on demonstration for making recycled paper, as well as playing the 3 R's of recycling game.

Dressed in her bib-overalls, straw hat & gloves, Mother Nature (Michelle) involves the students by having them participate in a simple recycling excercise. Three bags labeled Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse are placed on a desk. The students are given different items and instructed to place their item in the appropriate bag. This is a great exercise, however making recycled paper with a blender remains the class favorite! Available by appointment, contact Michelle at 547-4369.

In an effort to recognize area businesses that practice recycling, the Charlevoix County Recycling Program has designed a decal which can be proudly displayed in a window or door.

The Recycling Committee established criteria which must be met in order to be eligible to receive "This Business Recycles" certification.

The business must support the goals of the Charlevoix County Recycling Committee; and must practice at least two of the following:

• Flattens all cardboard boxes to a minimum size and takes them to one of the sites with a cardboard compactor (East Jordan & Melrose Twp.)

• Cleans and flattens all tin/aluminum cans and takes them to one of the recycling sites.
• Bags all newspapers and catalogs in brown paper grocery bags and takes them to one of the recycling sites.

• Collects and bags (in clear bags with holes poked to let air out)shredded paper, office paper and junk mail and takes it to one of the recycling sites.

• Cleans and flattens all plastic materials labeled #1, and #2 and takes them to one of the recycling sites.

• Encourages other businesses to become involved in recycling & feels free to attend any Committee meeting (held the 3rd Wed. of each month).

• Proudly displays the decal in a prominent location of the store (front window/door) For more information, contact Recycling Committee member Michelle Rick-Biddick at 547-4369. The following businesses recycle and display their decals with pride: Alcove Restaurant - Boyne Country Plastics - Charlevoix Public Library - East Jordan Auto Parts - Harbor Industries - Hayes, Telgenhoff, Turkelson & Groat, PC Attorneys - Irish Boat Shop - Korthase Flinn - Michael's Locksmith Services - North Country Community Health - Radio Shack Boyne City - Radio Shack Charlevoix - Red Mesa, Boyne City - Country Now & Then

The Charlevoix County Recycling Guide has been updated regarding the additional items that are now accepted.

2012 - PLANT PLASTIC COLLECTION!
Was held on Saturday, June 23rd.

Thank you Garden Club members for volunteering your assistance!!!!
Thank you East Jordan Plastics, Inc. for working with the recycling committee collecting the plant plastic for recycling & providing the shipping containers at each of the collection sites.

Most of the products produced by East Jordan Plastics are manufactured with recycled plastic. Whether as flowerpots, trays, inserts or flats, most of their containers are made with recycled plastic content and, depending on the container's application, some can be made from 100% recycled material.

The recycling of plastic horticultural containers begins with the collection and return of them. East Jordan Plastics is working with several groups to support and help facilitate the recycling of these containers. It's very important to properly clean the items before bringing them to the collection.

Since 2004, the Charlevoix County Recycling Committee has recognized a Recycler of the Year for outstanding recycling efforts they have made.
The first four awards went to local businesses that either: use scrap materials in their manufacturing process, or instituted a recycling program as part of doing business or for their employees at work.
While considering the 2008 recipient, a decision was made to establish two Award categories, A Business/Commercial Award and an Individual Award.


We are very pleased to announce, the 2009 Individual Award winner is Michael J. Webster.

The 2009 Commercial Award winner is East Jordan Plastics, Inc.

Previous award winners:
2004 Award to East Jordan Auto Parts in East Jordan
2005 Award to Boyne Country Plastics in Boyne Falls
2006 Award to Harbor Industries, Inc. in Charlevoix
2007 Award to East Jordan Iron Works in East Jordan
2008 Awards to the Beaver Island Transfer Station and to Bruce & Char Sanderson
2009 Awards to East Jordan Plastics, Inc. & Michael J. Webster
2010 Awards to Boyne Mountain & Laurie Leaman

2011 Awards to Irish Boat Shop & Pat Carey

2012 Individual Award Recipient

Pat Carey

2012 Commercial Award Recipient
Irish Boat Shop

Additional recycling information can also be found on these websites.

OUR EARTH

W.A.T.C.H.

C.A.R.E.

EMMET COUNTY RECYCLING

There has been growing concern about the effects of medicines in our waters. Many studies in the last ten years have detected pharmaceutical compounds in treated wastewater effuelent, rivers, lakes, and ground water.

Properly getting rid of unused medicines reduces the environmental risks, the risk of medications left unattended having tragic consequences, and the risk that prescriptions will be mishandled and end up on the street.

With funding provided by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, last September Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council partnered with the County Recycling Program (plus several other partners) to hold the first, Charlevoix County Prescription & Over-The-Counter Drug Drop-off event.

Held in conjunction with the HHHW collection to save on disposal costs, between 9 a.m. & 2 p.m. 103 participants showed up to drop off their medications.
A total of 242.5 pounds were collected!!! There were 224 pounds of uncontrolled substances and personal care products. And 18.5 pounds of controlled substances. Pharmacists were present to identify and properly separate the drugs. A law enforcement official was on site to take all the controlled substances into his custody and supervise them until their final destruction. Many thanks to all involved!!!

P.O.D. collection boxes

A secure, convenient, and environmentally sound option for the disposal of unused and unwanted household medications.

Residents can drop off unused or unwanted medications at any time throughout the year. All medications are handled according to the law enforcement agency's evidence protocols until taken for final destruction in accordance with state and federal laws.

POD Drop Box Locations in Charlevoix County:

Boyne City - City Hall @ 319 North Lake Street. 231-582-6611

Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office (Jail Entrance) @ 1000 Grant St. 231-547-4461

East Jordan - E.J. Police Department @ 326 Main Street. 231-536-2273

For more information on Medicines in Our Waterways, visit:

http://www.watershedcouncil.org/learn/pharmacueticals-in-our-waters/

Yellow Jug Old Drugs® is a program to collect & dispose of unused/unwanted/expired drugs, non-controlled substances only.
It began in May of 2009 in NE Michigan and is now available at 158 pharmacies across the state.
In Charlevoix County, these local pharmacies participate:

BOYNE CITY GLEN'S MARKET, phone 231-582-4545
BOYNE CITY HUFF'S PHARMACY, phone 231-582-6514
CHARLEVOIX CENTRAL DRUG, phone 231-547-2424
EAST JORDAN FAMILY PHARMACY, phone 231-536-2207

For more information on the program, visit: www.greatlakescleanwater.org

The Charlevoix County Sheriff's Department will also accept your prescription drugs INCLUDING controlled substances.
For more information contact: Chuck Vondra at 231-547-4461.

After conducting the recycling survey earlier this year, we discovered many people had the same questions regarding recycling.

Below you will find a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers. We hope you find it helpful.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Kelly at 231.582.6193.

If it can't be fixed, recycle it.

Before disposing of an appliance with refrigerant, the Freon must be removed by a licensed individual.

Appliances can be taken to Brooks Appliance Service where there is no fee charged.

Brooks Appliance Service, 02933 Boyne City Charlevoix Rd., Boyne City. Phone 231.582.6217