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Great Lakes Recycling expands to Flint Township
FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Local businesses now have a greener alternative to trashing paper and cardboard. Great Lakes Recycling opened in Flint Township in September and will process paper and cardboard brought in by area waste haulers, such as Allied Waste Services and Waste Management. The plant currently has four employees, but plans to have about 20 by 2010, said Ilene Bischer, co-owner of GLR Solutions.
The materials will be sorted and processed so it can be sold to paper mills to make new products.
Ilene Bischer, co-owner of GLR Solutions, said there was a local need for the service.
"We have a lot of customers in the Flint area," Bischer said. "To save on freight and driving cost, we decided to open a location in Flint Township."
Currently, the recycling center is processing only paper and cardboard from haulers.
The plant is not yet accepting materials from the general public, but if business goes well, the facility will be upgraded into a public drop-off center for recyclable materials such as paper and metal, said Jim DiMarco, director of sales and marketing for the company.
"People will eventually be able to come to the plant to drop of things like newspaper and other materials," said Jim DiMarco, director of sales and marketing for the company.
Depending on the items, it would be possible to get cash in exchange for recyclables based on weight. A fee would be charged for items that require special processing.
"A TV set has lead, and that has to be properly disposed of," Bischer said. "It costs money to process it and have the hazardous material removed."
GLR is a Michigan-based company with other recycling centers in Roseville and Huron Township.
The business recycled the old 7-UP Bottling Company plant on Bristol Road, which now houses the Flint Township recycling plant.
Its estimated that the portion of the building that houses the plant, has been empty for 15 years, said Tracey Tucker, economic enhancement director for the township.
"Anytime we can get empty buildings filled, it's great," Tucker said. "Its always great when we can get an environmentally friendly company in township."
The only form of recycling currently offered by the township is drop-off recycling on the third Saturday of every month at the Township Hall, 1490 S. Dye Road. Residents can bring in newspapers, aluminum, tin, plastics and glass.
Tucker said the township will seek more efficient methods after its contract with Waste Management expires in 2010.
"The fact that they choose Flint Township shows that people are looking for alternatives to just dumping," Tucker said. "It's great that we have a place right here in the township for them to do that."
Stephanie Hopkins, a Flint Township resident, said she's excited about the possibility of having local recycling stations.
"I'd like to do that (recycle)," said Hopkins, 56. "I don't recycle much now, but if it was more available to me, I would."
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