Deadline nears for recycling pilot program

Those eligible to participate have until April 23 to sign up to get carts.

The deadline to sign up for Laketown Township’s Recycling Pilot Program is Thursday, April 23, 2026.

The pilot is limited to a selected area of homes between 146th and 147th avenues, west of 64th Street. Invitations were sent to 147 households. So far, about 60 have responded and are participating.

The area was selected in coordination with Republic Services due to its density and proximity to its site at 4368 60th St., making it ideal for collecting data.

“Thank you to everyone who has already signed up. Your participation helps move this effort forward for the whole community,” said Zoey Hallam, deputy clerk for Laketown Township, who is coordinating the program. “While we were hoping for a few more participants, this group will still provide solid data to share with the township board and support future grant opportunities.”

The township will place the cart order on Monday, April 27, with delivery of the 64-gallon recycling carts expected in June.

Residents who choose to participate will place approved recyclable materials directly into the cart. Trash and recycling will continue to be collected by Republic Services, which is cooperating with the township during the test period.

After the six- to eight-month pilot concludes, the township will evaluate the results and determine next steps. Those could include expanding a cart program more broadly, adjusting the current system, or pursuing additional funding.

The pilot program is funded through a Seed Grant of just under $10,000 from NextCycle Michigan, supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The grant pays for the recycling carts used in the study. Republic Services is supporting the pilot with a dedicated truck to allow for accurate tracking of participation and material recovery.

Laketown Township has also applied for a larger recycling infrastructure grant through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. If awarded, that funding would allow the township to provide recycling carts to the remainder of the community.

Currently, Laketown residents use yellow recycling bags. The bag system can result in contamination, torn materials, and recyclable items being lost in the waste stream. Cart-based systems are widely used across Michigan and are often associated with higher participation and improved material capture.

If you received an invitation to participate in the pilot and would like to be part of the program, please reach out to Hallam at Zoey@laketowntwp.org or (616) 335-3050.