Frankenmuth

Recycling and Special Waste Programs for City of Frankenmuth Residents By Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) 6 T he Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) serves thirty-four member communities, including the City of Frankenmuth. City residents in Frankenmuth have weekly curbside trash and recycling collection, as well as weekly yard waste collection during yard waste season. While residents will see Priority Waste's yellow trucks collecting their curbside materials, it is the MMWA staff that manages the administration, contract management, education, programming, and customer service needs of the nearly 200,000 residents it serves. Residents have access to a comprehensive range of services, including Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) events, electronic recycling, document shredding, and seasonal specialty programs. These services are designed to protect public health, conserve natural resources, and prevent environmentally harmful materials from entering landfills. Curbside Recycling The City of Frankenmuth has weekly curbside recycling. All items should be placed loose into a can (rigid plastic container with handles) up to forty-five gallons in size labeled with a "Recyclables Only" sticker, or into an 18-gallon bin. Containers and contents should weigh less than 50 pounds. Materials placed in plastic bags cannot be accepted. Proper preparation and sorting of recyclables ensure they can be processed efficiently and reduce contamination that can limit recycling effectiveness. Residents can recycle paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, cartons, plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs. Acceptable paper products include newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, and flattened cardboard boxes. Glass should be limited to bottles and jars, while metals include clean aluminum and steel cans and empty aerosol containers. Plastic containers should be rinsed, and only bottles, jugs, and tubs labeled #1, # 2, #4, #5, #6 and #7 are accepted. Cartons from milk, juice, and soup are also recyclable. Other items such as plastic bags should be returned to a retailer, Styrofoam can be dropped off at the Saginaw Children's Zoo or tossed in the trash. Recycling keeps valuable materials in circulation and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills. By rinsing containers, flattening cardboard, and sorting materials correctly, residents help maintain the quality of the recycling stream and ensure the community benefits from these programs. Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Certain household products contain chemicals or other materials that require special handling and cannot be safely disposed of in the regular trash. MMWA hosts Household Hazardous Waste events to allow residents to safely dispose of items such as oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, solvents, pesticides, herbicides, automotive fluids, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, and both lithium and rechargeable batteries. These events are free to residents of Saginaw County, Bethany Township, the Village of Breckenridge, and Wheeler Township. The events cannot accept waste from businesses, farms, schools, or non-profit organizations. Electronic recycling is offered on the same day and location as HHW events, providing a convenient option for residents to responsibly dispose of televisions, computers, laptops, printers, cell phones, tablets, keyboards, mice, gaming consoles, DVD players, and other small electronics. Recycling these items allows valuable materials such as copper, aluminum, steel, and small amounts of precious metals to be recovered and reused. It also prevents hazardous substances, including lead and mercury, from entering landfills and potentially contaminating soil and water. Appointments are required for MMWA's HHW and electronic recycling events, and residents are encouraged to visit www.recyclemotion.org for the most current schedules and guidelines. Document Shredding Document shredding events are typically offered in May and September. These events provide residents with a secure method of disposing of sensitive personal or financial documents. Shredded paper is then recycled, reducing the risk of identity theft while contributing to the recovery of materials.

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