GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- After a five-week closure, Kent County will begin accepting recyclables again starting Monday, May 4.
The recycling drop-off stations at North Kent Recycling and Waste Center and the Recycling and Education Center will reopen for business as well on Monday.
The Kent County Department of Public Works closed those drop-off stations and stopped accepting inbound loads of recyclables on March 27 to protect workers from COVID-19.
Since the shutdown, Grand Rapids has continued to pick up recyclables as scheduled. Instead of taking it to the Recycling and Education Center for normal sorting and processing, the material was diverted to the county’s Waste to Energy Facility for incineration.
“We thank residents who have stored their recyclables during the shutdown for their patience and commitment to recycling and reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills,” said Kristen Wieland, spokesperson for the county’s DPW.
“We encourage anyone with recyclables piling up in their garages to begin putting them out at the curb for collection now that we’re operating again.”
Related: Kent County to stop accepting recyclables until further notice due to coronavirus
Measures to protect the recycling center’s 40 workers from coronavirus infection include pre-screening staff, increased cleaning frequency at work stations, staggering work stations to meet social distancing rules and increased personal protective gear, according to the DPW.
Employees at the Recycling Center are potentially exposed to coronavirus through handling the recyclables and working in close proximity to each other.
Along with ensuring worker safety, disruption in the recycling market was also part of the decision to halt accepting recyclables, according to the DPW.
DPW officials say the department was hampered in its ability to get recyclables to processors and end-users because other manufacturing processors were shutting down their facilities due to the pandemic. Processors will now accept material sorted at the facility.
Those wanting to share with the DPW the creative ways they’ve stockpiled recycling, or simply the amount of recycling they’ve stockpiled, during the closure can send a picture to the email recycle@kentcountymi.gov, or post it on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #returnofrecycling.
County health officials on Sunday, May 3, reported a total 1,786 reported COVID-19 cases and 39 deaths in the county. Health officials previously said they expect the daily number of new cases to peak sometime this month.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Carry hand sanitizer with you and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.
Read all of MLive’s coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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