Our Work in the Community

We have deep roots in the Ann Arbor community having first begun collecting recyclables over 40 years ago in 1977. The early years were a true grassroots program: just a truck and some concerned Ann Arbor citizens with the initiative to make a difference. This is our community and we give back by the service we provide, the partnerships we create, and the programs we support.

Together we can make a difference.

Our Community Programs

Boost Reuse

Through our Boost Reuse program, we will leverage our current investments to move up the zero waste hierarchy. Our aim is to strengthen partnerships with other community organizations addressing similar issues, raise awareness about reuse, and demonstrate how it helps conserve natural resources by extending the life of products. Recycle Ann Arbor’s focus is on shifting towards reuse and other zero-waste methods to positively impact the environmental quality of our community by reducing the need to extract new raw materials to make new products and keep materials local. 

Why Reuse Programs? 

Reuse programs can foster a sense of community and help build a culture of sustainability and responsibility that inspires others to adopt similar practices. Reusing items can save money for residents and businesses by reducing the need to purchase new products. Reuse initiatives such as Boost Reuse, repair shops, and second-hand retail stores, among others, also create local jobs and support a circular economy as part of Washtenaw County’s zero waste goals.

Recycle Ann Arbor Teams up with Give 365 to Clean up the Huron River

Sure we love recycling. But, when it comes to the problem of plastic, we'd prefer that it didn't exist in the first place. Plastic pollution is an epidemic. Regardless of great recycling, most plastic inevitably ends up as pollution. Often in our precious waterways. You've probably seen a lot of recent news reporting on the giant garbage patch floating in the ocean, and countless horror stories of plastic forks being pried from turtles' noses and fish washing up on beaches, their bellies full of plastic. Horrible as this all is, sometimes the problem feels far removed and overwhelming. However, the problem begins in our backyards– in our rivers, our kitchens, our local stores, and with our habits. Recycle Ann Arbor teamed up with Give 365 and spent a day on the Huron River getting an up-close look at pollution in our vital waterway, the river that's our source of water. This pollution finds its way into our river and then is carried off to Lake Erie, and believe it or not eventually out to the Atlantic. Since we know where the problem begins, we can take steps to prevent it. By reducing our plastic use, being sure to dispose of the waste we do create responsibly, and supporting local policies to help prevent pollution, bit by bit, we can make a difference.