Materials Management
Barry County Recycles
Learn about recycling in Barry County at barrycountyrecycles.org or by contacting Barry County Recycling Coordinator.
To find recycling and disposal locations by material, try the searchable database, or use the digital PDF guide below. Use the interactive recycling map to find locations by material and to see which hauler services your area or if you have a local recycling drop-off.
Recycling 101
Managing materials sustainably reduces the need for landfill expansion and creation by diverting materials elsewhere. Barry County is committed to supporting residents and businesses in their sustainability goals by making sure there is information and resources available.
Curbside & Drop-off Recycling
Most recycling haulers and drop-off sites accept the following:
Paper products such as office paper, phone books, magazines,
junk mail, newspaper, paperboard (like cereal boxes)Cardboard including pizza boxes and should always be flattened
Glass bottles and jars
Metal cans and aluminum foil
Plastic food and beverage bottles tubs, jugs, and jars
*Recyclables should be loose in the bin, please do not bag your recycling!
Always check with your recycling company or drop-off site for their specific rules.
Food & Yard Waste Options in Barry County
Backyard Composting
According to the Institute of Self Reliance, more than 50% of trash set at the curb is made up of compostable materials. Compostable materials include fruit and vegetable discards, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags and leaves, herbaceous animal manure, paper towels and napkins, paper and cardboard contaminated with food, lawn clippings, leaves and twigs, sawdust and woodchips, straw and hay, and even hair and fur. These materials can be managed in your own backyard through a composting system. Composting is a natural way to break down these materials and provide you with a rich soil enhancer.
Composting with Worms
Worms are a natural part of the decomposition of organic materials and can be used to manage your kitchen scraps. Setting up and managing a worm bin is a fun and educational way to get the whole family involved in creating a healthy nutrient for plants.
Composting is a great alternative to burning but beware of invasive species! Invasive species CAN NOT be composted, learn which plants are invasive in Barry County and how to handle them, here.
Household Hazardous Waste Collections in May & September at Barry Expo Center/Fairgrounds
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Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
HHW are any materials that have one or more of the following properties: toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive. These materials should never be disposed of in a landfill or incinerator as they can cause harm to humans, wildlife, and the environment. When buried in a landfill HHW can leach harmful pollutants.
Items accepted: acids and bases, aerosols, household cleaners, pesticides, light bulbs, motor oil and other automotive fluids, automotive batteries, alkaline, nickel-cadmium, lithium ion, and silver oxide batteries, oil-based paints, mercury-containing materials, ammunition and explosives, unused/expired medications and sharps (needles and syringes), electronics, and scrap tires.
We cannot accept; asbestos, latex paint (when dry it can go to the landfill), propane tanks, commercially generated waste, radioactive material explosives, or unknown wastes.
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Scrap Tires
“It is illegal to dispose of whole motor vehicle tires in Michigan landfills. Scrap tires can be hazardous to our environment and the public health of Michigan if not properly managed. Run-off from scrap tire fires can contaminate water and scrap tire sites are an ideal habitat for the breeding of mosquitoes carrying disease such as West Nile Virus.”
Barry County encourages residents to properly dispose of tires twice per year at the semi-annual HHW collection events. Per MDOT law there is a 10 tire limit per car. Only tires from households are accepted - no business tires will be accepted. First come, first serve basis until trailers are full. Tires heavily caked with dirt will not be accepted.
The scrap tire collection is supported in whole by the Scrap Tire Collection grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
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Electronics
Electronic waste, or E-waste, cannot be thrown away or recycled at home due to the toxic chemicals like cadmium, mercury, and lead they contain. When buried in a landfill, these chemicals can leach into the soil and groundwater and negatively impact the environment, wildlife, and people. Many electronics also contain valuable materials such as copper, silver, and gold.
Accepted electronic items include batteries, computers, laptops, circuit boards, hard drives, servers, power cords, cables, wires, office supplies, ink jet, toner cartridges, GPS units, gaming systems, iPads/tablets, cell phones, small household appliances, holiday/Christmas lights, TVs and monitors**
**$10 suggested donation for TVs and monitorsWe cannot accept freon containing appliances/electronics at this time.
Recycling FAQs
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There are many recycling opportunities available in Barry County including curbside pickup and recycling drop-off centers. Additionally, there are numerous PaperGator bins located around the county.
Use the Recycling Map to see what is available at your home or visit the Residential Services page. -
It Reduces Waste - The average American discards 4.5 pounds of garbage every day. Most of this garbage ends up in landfills, where it's compacted and buried. It Reduces the Use of Landfill Space - Recycling means we use less landfill space, preventing the need to expand existing landfills or create new ones.
It's Good for Our Economy - American manufacturing companies rely on recycling programs to provide the raw materials they need to make new products. Michigan’s recycling and reuse industry is made up of an estimated 2,242 establishments.
It Creates New Demand - Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products; decreasing waste, saving natural resources and helping our economy.
It Creates Jobs - Recycling in the U.S. employs over 757,000 people, provides $36.6 billion in wages and $6.7 billion in tax revenues. Michigan’s recycling industry provides jobs for 61,000 Michiganders.
It Saves Energy - Recycling offers significant energy savings over manufacturing with raw materials. For example, manufacturing with recycled aluminum cans uses 95% less energy.
It's Good for The Environment - Providing the raw materials (recyclables) to manufacturers requires far less energy and uses fewer natural resources (virgin materials). Natural resources take thousands of years to replenish if they can be replenished at all.
It Helps Prevent Global Warming - In 2014, over 89 million tons of municipal solid waste (food, plants, glass, boxes, cans, batteries, electronics, plastics, etc.) were recycled or composted in the United States, saving over 322,000 GWh of energy – enough to provide electricity to 30 million homes.
It Reduces Water Pollution - Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.
It Protects Wildlife - Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers and other places essential to wildlife.
Michigan Recycling Coalition, Environmental Protection Agency, National Recycling Coalition -
Residents of each local unit of government pay for the recycle program, therefore please use only the recycle program in your township/village/city. If your local unit of government does not offer a program for recycling, voice your interest to one of your government officials.
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Household hazardous waste (HHW) are any product that has one or more of the following properties: toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive and should never be disposed of in a landfill or incinerator. These may include items such as cleaners, oil-based paint, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and pesticides. HHW is harmful to people, animals, and the environment if not disposed of properly.
Barry County holds two Household Hazardous Waste and scrap tire collection events each year in spring and fall at the Barry County Expo Center.
Learn more about proper disposal of:
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Composting is a great way to put your yard waste and food waste to good use.
Composting is the natural recycling of food and yard waste to create fertilizer. Compost can completely replace store-bought fertilizer and be used to improve soil structure and water retention, increase long-term soil fertility, and support plant growth and health. Yard waste and food waste can be composted at home or at a commercial facility. Learn more here
City residents can bring yard waste to the City of Hastings compost facility for free at 303 W. State Road. Learn more here.
Outside of the county, visit reimaginetrash.org/material/yard-waste/
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Polystyrene, plastic #6, is not accepted in most curbside or drop-off facilities.
In Barry County:
Sunshine Pack and Ship
1351 N M-43 Hwy, Hastings, Michigan 49058
269-948-9610
hastings.sunshinepackandship.com/
Items Accepted: foam packing peanuts
Outside Barry County:
Sunfield Recycling Center
126 1st St, Sunfield
recycle18.wixsite.com/sunfieldrecycling
Items Accepted: see website for detailsAtlas EPS
8240 Byron Center Ave., Byron Center
616-878-1568
dartcontainer.com/sustainability/foam-recycling-centers
Items Accepted: used polystyrene foam including ice chests; protective packaging foam; and clean, white, food-grade foam
BIZ AID LLC
90 Darling Drive. Coldwater
517-227-4901
bizaidllc.com
Charlotte Area Recycling Authority (CARA)
201 Hall Street, Charlotte
517-213-1266
charlottemi.org/recycling
Items Accepted: packing foam, coolers, egg cartons, cups, plates, bowls, and packing peanuts (packing peanuts must be separated)
Marshall Recycling Center
13300 15 Mile Rd., Marshall
269-969-6395
calhouncountymi.gov
Items Accepted: Must be clean and dry, no peanuts or construction material
AFT PakMail
866-905-9166
Multiple locations throughout West Michigan
pakmail.com/store-locator
Items Accepted: clean, square foam blocks or sheets, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap
Mail-In:
Sealed Air
855-773-2533
Items Accepted: bubble wrap, air pillow packaging, Instapak foam packaging, and polyethylene foam packaging
Visit www.homeforfoam.com/recycling to find more locations -
Eaton County's Department of Resource Recovery, through a partnership with the Michigan Recycling Coalition and the Michigan Farm Bureau, have developed a pilot program for recycling agricultural film plastic at the Sunfield Recycling Center. This program, as well as the Sunfield Recycling Center where it is housed, are open to Eaton County and non-Eaton County residents. Learn more
Silage/Grain Bags
Bunker Cover/Tarp
Greenhouse Film
Drip Tape
Clear Pallet Stretch Wrap
Boat Covers
Bin Liners
Pallet Covers
x Plastic Bags*
x Seed Bags
x Mulch Film
x Greenhouse/Nursery Flats, Trays, and Pots
x PVC Pipes
x Pesticide Containers
x Bale Netting
x Bubble Wrap*
x Twine
x Woven Fabric Bags*Plastic bags and bubble wrap can be recycled at participating retailers who accept #2 and #4 plastic bags and films - learn more
Material Preparation RequirementsDue to the large variety and quantities of materials accepted by this program, specific preparation of materials is required. Specific preparation instructions depend on the type of accepted material. Please refer to the "Material Guide" to find individual preparation instructions for all types of accepted materials.
Additional questions regarding accepted materials, material preparation requirements, or about this recycling program in general can be referred to the Eaton County Resource Recovery Coordinator.Schedule an Appointment
To schedule an appointment, you must first submit the initial registration form. Once submitted, staff will contact you to schedule an appointment.
Registration Form
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