BELLAIRE -- Antrim County upgraded and expanded its recycling program.
County commissioners approved spending up to $300,000 a year to pay for a program that increases the number of recycling drop-off spots from three to eight.
New drop-offs sites are in Bellaire, Ellsworth, Alden, Alba and Mancelona. Elk Rapids, Kewadin and Central Lake already had recycling centers.
"It's something that's been asked about for a long time," said Bill Gadwau, a member of the Antrim County Solid Waste and Recycling Council and a trustee in Central Lake Township. "We're hoping a lot of people will start recycling."
The program is free for all Antrim County residents. Accepted items include paper, cardboard, glass, tin and certain types of plastic.
Avid recycler Pepper Bromelmeier, of Central Lake, said it's about time recycling was offered throughout the county.
"I'm totally blown away that this finally came through," she said. "I would imagine once the word gets out people will jump on the bandwagon."
It's been in the works for more than a decade, said Joe Meyers, associate county planner.
"It's to be a little more responsible about our waste in the county and provide a service a lot of county residents haven't had before," he said.
The effort requires cooperation between county government and Antrim's townships and villages, since most of the drop-off stations are on township or village property, Meyers said.
"It expands the number of areas where recycling is more readily available," said Bob Peterson, council chairman and Elk Rapids village manager.
The program will ease the burden on townships and villages that sponsored recycling programs, and the county's overall costs may decrease over time, Peterson said.
Seven drop-off sites will be available 24 hours a day, seven days per week, while the Central Lake site will remain open on Tuesdays and Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
More information about the program, locations of drop-offs and accepted items is available at www.antrimcounty.org/recycling.asp, or by calling 533-3555.
Drop-off spots
Antrim County recycling drop-off centers:
Alba: at Concord Academy, Corey Road off U.S. 131
Alden: Helena Township Hall, Helena Road
Bellaire: Antrim County Transportation Building, M-88 across from Shanty Creek Road
Elk Rapids: Municipal Building, south parking lot off Bridge Street
Ellsworth: Antrim County Road Commission site, across from ball fields on Lake Street
Kewadin: old Milton Township Hall on Cairn Highway
Mancelona: Mancelona Township Hall on M-88 west of Mancelona
Central Lake: transfer station on M-88 north of Central Lake
