Flint, Michigan, partners with Cascade Engineering to distribute free recycling carts

Mayor Sheldon Neeley of Flint, Michigan, has announced the city has selected Grand Rapids-based Cascade Engineering to produce 60,000-plus 96-gallon waste collection carts and 64-gallon recycling carts that will be distributed for free beginning this fall to 30,000 residential households.

Neeley joined with Genesee County state legislators and leaders with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and Washington-based nonprofit The Recycling Partnership to make the announcement.

“[This] is the next step in transitioning Flint to a cart-based recycling program that will promote the largest recycling push in our city’s history,” Neeley said during a news conference at the Flint Service Center, where models of the city’s new dark gray trash containers and blue recycling receptacles adorned with “Flint Strong” logos were on display.

Flint currently requires residents to provide their own trash and recycling receptacles to contain materials at the curbside.

The approximately 60,000 new rolling, lidded recycling carts Cascade is producing for distribution this fall are projected to increase the amount of materials recycled in Flint from 624 tons per year to 5,400 tons per year—a 750 percent increase—as well as improve recycling access, inspire more resident participation and enhance safety for sanitation workers.

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The Flint cart campaign was funded through multiple sources. The city is receiving a $1 million EGLE grant to help it purchase and provide the free recycling carts.

In addition, together with its partners including Midland, Michigan-based Dow Inc., The Recycling Partnership is mobilizing voluntary investment to support communities like Flint in modernizing their programs and expanding access to recycling.

Cities across Michigan and the U.S. have moved to lidded carts for garbage and recycling because manual collection has become increasingly dangerous and expensive, according to the news release. Prominent national and regional haulers have recently stated they will no longer bid on municipal contracts that are not carted.