Recycling Quality Improvement

Recycling Quality Improvement Program

Program Overview

The Recycling Quality Improvement Program took place between June and August 2021, aiming to reduce recycling contamination in WRRMA communities. Contaminants are items that can't be recycled. In your recycling, contaminants can have unintended consequences and cause issues in the recycling process. If they are wet or have food residue, they can spoil other materials, reducing the other recyclables' value. Other items like batteries can cause fires, and plastic bags and hoses get tangled in processing machinery. Cleaner recycling helps ensure the materials you work hard to recycle are ultimately able to be recycled. The Recycling Quality Improvement Program is meant to help you make accurate and informed recycling choices and provide personalized recycling feedback.

Program Results and Reports

Overall, WRRMA’s measured contamination rate decreased 42% from the pre-program audit (19.49%) to the post-program audit (11.34%). This means the program was a success!

A special thank you to all our program partners and municipalities who made this happen, in addition to all our residents who dutifully put out their recycling and made recycling choices consistent with the recycling flyer and the tags found on contaminated carts.

For more information, an overview of the entirety of the program, and more data and analysis, view our detailed 2021 Recycling Quality Improvement Program Grant Report.

Left: A recycling truck from a WRRMA community arrives at the material recovery facility (MRF) and unloads in front of the auditing station.
Center: Audit staff works on sorting materials into 34 different categories.
Right: Materials of each type are weighed to get an overall recycling composition.

Left: WRRMA-trained cart inspector Julie Cline (left) talks with Ypsilanti Township resident John Goodsell about the items in recycling bin. Photos courtesy of the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Center: A bin tagged for having bagged recyclables.
Right: WRRMA-trained cart inspectors Laurena Deak (left) and Julie Cline examine recycling bins in an Ypsilanti Township neighborhood. Photos courtesy of the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Recycling Hotline (734) 222-3920
Email recyclewrrma@gmail.com
705 N Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103