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Thumb Recycling Plan Ready to be Reviewed
Mary Drier/Mike Kaufman
Sun, 02 Aug 2026 23:36:19 EDT
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Counties across the state have spent three years working on developing Michigan's mandated multi-county recycling plan.
Because of that directive, the Thumb's four counties joined together to create a regional plan as the state also suggested.
The counties of Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac and Lapeer joined to form the Materials Management Planning Committee.
The committee prepared a draft of the new Thumb Region Materials Management Plan (MMP).
During a Sanilac County Commissioner's meeting, it was noted the Thumb's plan is among the first to be reviewed by the state.
There will be a public hearing and a public comment period on the Thumb Region Materials Management Plan.
The public hearing on the plan will be at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Beagios Pizza at 5795 Sanilac Rd., Kingston, to go over the plan.
There will also be a public comment period for written comments to be received.
Also, there will be written comment period on the draft plan from Monday, Aug. 3 to Friday, Oct. 2. Comments can be sent by email to mmpcomments@tuscolacounty.org or mailed to: Materials Management Planning Committee, 125 West. Lincoln St., Suite 500, Caro, MI 48723.
A draft MMP is available for public inspection online at: www.tuscolacounty.org/recycling/mmpc.php.
The state is now placing a greater emphasis on recycling over garbage collection.
Besides doing more recycling, the state is also strongly encouraged counties to form multi-county recycling plans.
Because Tuscola has been doing recycling longer than the other three counties, and has a spacious recycling center, they took the lead on developing a regional recycling plan.
By working together, the state will give each county $70,000 rather than than just $60,000 if they go it alone.
The push for more recycling came about in 2023 when governor signed several bills into law regarding significant changes to recycling and materials handling.
Those new laws focus on more productive ways of managing discarded materials in Michigan.
The state's goal is to have at least a 30 percent statewide recycling rate by 2029, and the long-range goal is achieving a 45 percent recycling rate. The state's recycling rate when the plan to do more recycled was about 24 percent.
