Neeley spoke during an outdoor news conference at Rollingwood Park, where models of the city’s new dark gray trash containers and blue recycling receptacles adorned with “Flint Strong” logos were on display. He stated the announcement was the final major step in transitioning Flint to a cart-based recycling program that will promote the recycling.
Attending the event with the mayor and local dignitaries were EGLE Director Phil Roos, Michigan Environmental Justice Public Advocate Regina Strong, Cascade Engineering Sales Manager Brian Miller, The Recycling Partnership Chief System Optimization Officer Cody Marshall and dozens of Flint residents and recycling advocates.
- Carts will help sustain or even lower collection costs over time relative to an un-carted program.
- Carts reduce litter, help control rodent and pest populations and enhance community cleanliness.
- Carts make recycling and garbage service easier for Flint residents.
The new carts will come with information about what can be recycled, and a detailed list is online at
CityOfFlint.com/Sanitation. Materials that can be deposited in the recycling carts include:
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Aluminum and steel cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Cardboard (flattened)
- Newspaper, junk mail, mixed paper — all colors and types
- This is a truly historic accomplishment for the City of Flint,” Roos said. “We all know recycling helps us keep Michigan beautiful. Now, the City of Flint gets to be a larger part of that beautiful story.
“Many conscientious people in Flint have done their best to recycle, but most of the city’s potentially recyclable materials end up in trash containers and go to the landfill because Flint residents don’t have their own recycling containers,” said Roos. “
- Ross said the campaign will allow all Flint residents to do their part.
- “Recycling is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do,” Ross added.
The Flint cart rollout features multiple funding sources. The city is receiving a $1 million EGLE grant to help the city purchase and provide the free recycling carts. In addition, The Recycling Partnership, a purpose-driven organization, awarded a $3.3 million grant to help support Flint’s effort to modernize its waste management program and expand access to recycling.
Of the 821 cities in the U.S. with populations over 50,000 people, 78% have carted collection, 2023 data shows. Most programs are carted because it is the most efficient and cost-effective way to collect waste and recycled materials at the curb.
- The City of Flint asks residents to not call city agencies with questions about the date of cart deliveries. The carts will automatically be delivered to every household in Flint.
