The Systems Planning Unit assists in planning for the City of Ann Arbor’s solid waste issues. This includes recycling, yard waste, and refuse collection and processing issues for both the residential and commercial sector.
Commercial Recycling
Recycling performance for Ann Arbor businesses - which make up approximately 60% of the total Ann Arbor waste stream - lags behind at a low 15%. The City is determined to help businesses recycle more. A key initiative in the City's Solid Waste Plan is a goal of 50% diversion for business recycling.
Early in 2006, at City Council's direction, the Environmental Commission created a Commercial Recycling Committee, inviting broad local business representation from the Chamber of Commerce; the Downtown Development Authority; the hospitality, construction, and housing industries; and the City Council.
The Commercial Recycling Committee's assignment is to develop recommendations for an effective business recycling initiative that would achieve goals for 50+% diversion of commercial waste, and maximize use of those capital improvements already underway to the City Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), Transfer Station and Compost Facility.
The Committee has developed recommendations that were reviewed at a work session of City Council on January 16, 2007:
A final report was accepted for action by City Council in June, 2007. An implementation committee is underway in 2008. All related final and working documents for the commercial recycling implementation plan are posted on the RRSI consultant webpage.
Information on the 2008 planning process, committee reports and 2009 implementation:
For more information, contact Tom McMurtrie at (734) 794-6430 ext 43707.
Relevant plans and documents from other organizations:
Updated April 20, 2009
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