Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority

09/03/2026

Furnace filters are NOT recyclable at the WWRA! This item may have cardboard on the outside, but it is mostly made of polyester/fiberglass filter materials. This is a great example of the damage wishcycling does to the recycling system. The person who left this in our Werkner Road bin likely debated whether or not this was a recyclable item. Instead of asking, they made the decision that it was better to "just try and see what happens." In many wishcycler's minds, the worst that could happen is that it is sorted out, right?

Wishcycling is when someone recycles an item when they are unsure of if it can be recycled. Many participate in wishcycling because they believe it is better to attempt to recycle an item than to just throw it in the trash. No matter what the cause of wishcycling is, contaminates entering our facility costs time and money. The WWRA is always here to answer your questions about specific items, like filters. Message us on social media or email [email protected] for more information!

08/31/2026

If bioplastics aren't plastic, what are they? Did you just say the WWRA was a MRF? Does wishcycling give you good luck? Is E-Waste something out of Star Wars?

These answers and more can be found in the WWRA's Recycling Dictionary! We explore topics like the WWRA's #1 contaminant, zero waste principles, and common recycling misconceptions. Scan the QR code or visit wwrarecycles.org/dictionary for more information.

08/27/2026

It's Throwback Thursday! Here's a look at some plastic #1 bales, natural HDPE (white translucent plastic) bales, and rigid plastic bales from May of 2016. Here are some of the items that were accepted a decade ago, which we still accept today!

- Plastic bottles and containers #1- #7, such as pop and water bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles, cottage cheese and yogurt containers, etc. Remove caps and lids, rinse well and flatten, replace cap. Labels may be left on.
- Rigid plastics, like 5 gallon buckets, milk crates, plastic pallets, plastic playhouses (please break down and remove all non-plastic components), plastic flower pots, laundry baskets, empty garbage cans, and plastic cat litter containers

What's NOT accepted in these photos
- Bowling balls are definitely NOT recyclable (photo 1)
- Any styrofoam or packing peanuts (photo 1, 3)
- Any thin plastic grocery bags (photo 1)
- Burlap or Mesh feed bags (photo 3)

For a full list of accepted items, please visit wwrarecycles.org/what-can-i-recycle/

08/26/2026

Reminder: The WWRA's August board meeting is tonight at 7:00 pm in the Dexter Township Hall council chambers. For meeting agendas and future meeting dates, please visit wwrarecycles.org/meeting-info/

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

Recyclables go through many steps in the journey from bin to store. Once recyclables enter a WWRA drop off or curbside bin, materials are separated from contaminates and by type. They are compacted into bales and sold to recycling facilities, who specialize in specific recycled materials. Let’s look at where the WWRA’s recyclables go:

Otsego Paper (Otsego, MI): The WWRA’s corrugated cardboard bales are shipped to Otsego Paper in Otsego, MI. Transportation is handled by Metro Recycling, a third party logistics company. At Otsego Paper, the WWRA’s cardboard bales are turned into pulp, mechanical pulp, paper and paper board. These raw materials are then used to make construction material, such as drywall, sheetrock, cement board, ceiling tiles, and panels.

Ox Engineered Products(Constantine, MI): The WWRA’s mixed newspaper and office paper bales are shipped to Ox Engineered Products in Constantine, MI. Transportation is handled by Metro Recycling, a third party logistics company. At Ox, the paper is broken down to be used as construction home wrap, floor coverings, sheathing, and insulation.

Tabb Packaging (Plymouth, MI): The WWRA's PET ( #1) and HDPE ( #2) plastic goes to Tabb Packaging in Plymouth, MI. Tabb Packaging are industry experts on plastic recycling, and are the supplier for numerous businesses in search of recycled plastic pellets. Recycled plastics #1- #2 are made into new packaging, or mixed with Virgin Plastic to create more rigid products.

Razorback Metals (Dexter, MI): The metal that the WWRA processes is baled and shipped to Razorback for scrap-management programs throughout the United States and eastern Canada. Their clients include automotive OEMs, Tier 1 & Tier Il suppliers, steel processors, steel mills, foundries, wire and cable producers, utilities, and telecommunications companies.

Brighmark Plastics (Ashley, IN): Remaining mixed plastics #3- #7 are purchased in bulk by Brightmark Plastics. At Brightmark, plastics are processed to create PyBright (a liquid resin for plastic production) and CarbonBright (a plastic recycling byproduct that can be used in asphalt or filtering).

08/22/2026

Remember, disposable dinnerware is NOT recyclable.
- Plastic knives, forks, spoons, and plates are NOT recyclable
- Composable and biodegradable bioplastic products are NOT recyclable
- Wooden and paper dinnerware is NOT recyclable
-Styrofoam plates, cups, bowls, or any other Styrofoam is NOT recyclable.

Instead, we recommend using reusables when possible, and disposing of single use items in the trash.

08/19/2026

Is the Solid Waste Transfer Station the same thing as the WWRA?
Do you take furniture, refrigerators, construction waste, tires, or other nonrecyclable items?
Do you sell soil or take compost?
Why does it say you are open 7:00-3:30 M-F when I take things to the dump on Saturday?

This is our most common question, and is what most of our walk ins, phone calls, Facebook and google messages are for. We are NOT the same!

The WWRA is a non-profit partnership of five municipalities working together to find alternative ways to handle waste and promote recycling. The WWRA does not accept furniture, refrigerators, construction waste, tires, or other nonrecyclable items. The WWRA only accepts recyclable materials, and we do not sell any items.

We are often confused with The Solid Waste Transfer Station, whose information can be found below. Although the WWRA is next door, The Solid Waste Transfer Station is a separate entity from the WWRA and has different hours, buildings, employees, and purposes. The WWRA only accepts recyclable items. The Solid Waste Transfer Station takes items and offers products for a small fee. Visit their website for more information.

city-chelsea.org/services/solid_waste/index.php

08/19/2026

Hi! We are back for another year of helping reduce waste at the Chelsea Fair Kitchen. Come escape the heat and humidity by volunteering in the air-conditioned dining area as we help diners sort compost, recycling, and trash. You are even able to get a free meal from Shelley and her kitchen staff! Yo...

08/17/2026

Everyone enjoyed getting a look inside the WWRA Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) last week! Today, we have an "I Spy" contamination game for you. This commingled recycling load was relatively low in contamination, but did have some common items that are NOT recyclable.

1) Garden Hose: Garden hoses are tanglers, which we saw the damage of in last week's post. Tanglers are nonrecyclable items, including hoses, plastic bags, rope, string, chains, and Christmas lights, that become tangled in our recycling machines. Please dispose of these in the trash if they are broken.
2) Plastic bags: Plastic bags and bagged recycling are the WWRA's #1 contaminant. Plastic bags are a type of tangler. You can see the damage recycling bags does to our sorting machines here: wwrarecycles.org/what-happens-when-you-recycle-unrecyclable-tanglers/
3) Glass: Glass is ONLY recyclable in designated "Clear Glass" and "Colored Glass" bins. Glass cannot be thrown in commingled or curbside bins like this load. To recycle the glass container circled in the bottom right, the lid and label would need to be removed, and it would need to be thrown in the "Clear Glass" bin. Learn more about glass recycling here: wwrarecycles.org/separating-clear-and-colored-glass/

If we missed something, the SamurAI was sure to sort it out! Learn about the SamurAI here: wwrarecycles.org/what-is-the-samurai/