Regional Waste Management

Recycling Quality Improvement Program

This summer, Pittsfield Township will be participating in the Recycling Quality Improvement Program as a community member of the Washtenaw Regional Resource Management Authority (WRRMA). WRRMA’s “recycling detectives” will quickly glance at each single-family home’s recycle cart or bin on four curbside recycling days. If contamination is found during one of these quick checks, the recycling detective will leave behind a personalized feedback tag. On later checks, if another contamination tag is left, the recycling will not be picked up until the contaminant noted on the tag is removed. 

Example of recycling program postcard mailed to residents:

Beginning the week of June 11, residents will start receiving postcards in the mail of the recycling flyer that introduces the program. The cart-by-cart review of recyclable materials and tagging for Pittsfield Township residents will take place July 19 through August 13. If contamination is found during a brief review of the materials in the recycling cart, then that cart will be tagged with a note that there is an issue. Second and subsequent tags on the same cart will result in that cart not being picked up that week. Each single-family home will receive four checks total. Data will be collected both before and after the tagging process to see how many contaminants we were able to remove from our recycling. 

Check out the Waste Wizard interactive recycling search tool

View guidelines on acceptable recycling materials.

This program aims to reduce recycling contamination, or items that can’t be recycled. In your recycling, contaminants can have unintended consequences and cause many issues, such as how plastic bags tangle up the recycling processing machinery. Cleaner recycling helps ensure the materials you work hard to recycle are ultimately able to be recycled. The Recycling Quality Improvement Program will provide personalized recycling feedback and help you make accurate and informed recycling choices.

This is part of a statewide effort throughout Michigan to increase our recycling rate, decrease recycling costs, reduce worker safety hazards, and attract manufacturers using recycled products to see Michigan as a great place to do business. The Recycling Partnership has coordinated this program in over 80 locations across the United States and has seen contamination rates reduced by up to 40% as a direct result.

Example of feedback tag that will be left on carts of contaminated recycling: