Ready to turn over a new leaf this fall? You can help your household, community, state, and nation break the cycle of throwing away materials that have value for reclamation and reuse.
America Recycles Day – every Nov. 15 – is dedicated to promoting recycling, reducing waste, and conserving resources. Michigan is on board.
“Celebrating America Recycles Day in Michigan can help continue increasing recycling in the
state and highlight the fact that all Michigan residents can help strengthen the economy while contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a proclamation of support.Michigan this year is celebrating record‑high recycling rates and community participation. In April, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced a new 26% recycling rate based on the most recent data available. The goal within reach is 30% by 2029.
Michiganders recycled more than 800,000 tons of materials through curbside and drop-off programs in 2025 – about 158 pounds of recycling per person. And more residents than ever are learning to recycle properly, partly through EGLE’s Know It Before You Throw It campaign and its kid-friendly Recycling Raccoons mascots.
America Recycles Day is backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and led by the national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful. The nonprofit works with local affiliates, volunteers, public agencies, and corporate partners to reduce litter, increase recycling, and improve communities across the nation.
EGLE highlights the day as an opportunity for Michiganders to:
- Check local recycling programs for accepted items (hint: avoid plastics bags, loose electronics, and dirty containers).
- Join challenges: Keep America Beautiful offers daily “reduce, reuse, recycle” challenges and quizzes.
- Participate in events: Michigan hosts recycling challenges, school programs, and community cleanups.
The November date is timely when it comes to managing residential leaf litter and yard waste. EGLE encourages residential composting, scheduling pick-up with a local waste provider, or finding a drop-off location for composting yard waste. EGLE has a map of registered composters and a Michigan Recycling Directory.
Unlike landfills, composting breaks down organic material without releasing the greenhouse gas methane into the atmosphere. Instead, composting produces a nutrient-rich soil supplement that holds moisture and helps gardens grow.
EGLE offers recycling programs and resources focused on expanding access to recycling, improving the quality of recyclable materials, increasing recycling capacity, reducing food waste, and building Michigan’s circular economy. Information is tailored to help residents, businesses, and communities.
The department also offers connections to state and federal funding for recycling related projects such as energy efficiency upgrades, nonresidential renewable energy installations, product reuse market development, and research and reports. Applications and requests for proposals are available throughout the year.
Meanwhile, EGLE’s Catalyst Communities program provides education, training, planning and technical resources to local governments working toward sustainability goals, and the EGLE-backed NextCycle Michigan connects entrepreneurs, nonprofits, small businesses, universities, and public agencies to coaching, business planning, networking, and funding opportunities.
In recent months, Flint and Bay City celebrated record recycling progress backed by EGLE. Flint and Genesee County leaders announced a 253% increase in household recycling since the City rolled out recycling carts in 2024. Bay City household recycling is up 50% from 2022, when curbside carts were introduced to 15,000 households.
EGLE also is introducing a Battery Circularity Program to improve how batteries are collected, recycled, and reprocessed across the state.
A new EGLE story map demonstrates how plastic water bottles fit into that circular economy, where materials are kept in use by repairing, reusing, and recycling them so they don’t become waste.
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