Happy New Year! We hope you had an eventful (or relaxing) holiday season! With 2023 comes more opportunities for learning experiences and setting personal goals to live your best waste-free life. We provided our 9 surrounding communities with a variety of helpful recycling resources, tips, and events in 2022 - and it doesn't end there! We're always excited to share new recycling info with RRRASOC residents - such as details on how you can divert your food scraps from the landfill! Read on for details!

Food scraps and leftovers are often one of the more difficult forms of waste to dispose of properly. When it gets put in the garbage, it goes to a landfill where it will create methane, a harmful, potent greenhouse gas. And we definitely don't want them tossed in with your recycling! While many community members are moving toward composting their food scraps in their backyard, not everyone has the time or space to do so. That leaves many of us with a big question: "Where should it go?"

Good news: there are options nearby! Plus, they're environmentally friendly and often give back to the community. Type "food scraps" into the Recycling Directory at www.rrrasoc.org to see a list of charitable organizations and composting farms where you can either donate non-perishable food items or compost your food scraps and leftovers - often for free! The list is always growing, so check back periodically to find more locations to safely and properly divert your food waste.

Some food can be donated to a local charitable cause, where it is dispersed to those in need. These types of goods normally involve boxed, canned, or dry goods.

Leftovers, food waste, and food scraps can be dropped off at certain composting facilities to be properly diverted from the landfill and turned into beneficial compost.

The hours that our industrial paper shredder is available to the public have been adjusted for the new year. Effective January 9th, paper shredder hours are now 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We look forward to seeing an increased number of visitors to our paper shredder as the months go by!

Reminder: This self-serve industrial paper shredder is for personal documents only - no businesses.

January 26th is World Environmental Education Day!

If you're subscribed to this newsletter, you're probably already a pro at recycling - why not take a day to share some of that knowledge with your friends, family, or neighbors to help them get on your level? On January 26th (or even before that... we won't tell!), take someone on a virtual tour through our website, where they can learn about curbside recycling etiquette, what is and isn't accepted at the facility, when they can bring their HHW to a Collection Event, how to use the drop-off sites, and even some helpful tips on how to live an eco-friendly, waste-free lifestyle. Not to mention the detailed FAQ page found here!

However you utilize this day, we're thankful to have you as part of our mindful, sustainable, and supportive community! Thanks for being an avid recycler! ♻

This year's HHW (Household Hazardous Waste) Collection Events will be here before you know it! Take a mental note of which items you'll be taking to our next event in April - be it household cleaners, batteries, clothing, or documents for shredding. With that in mind, here's a quick rundown of why you should attend April's HHW Collection Event:

You're Keeping Toxic Chemicals Out of Landfills

If left in a landfill, these chemicals can get picked up by rainwater and potentially be distributed into the surrounding area. Properly disposing of HHW ensures it's handled properly.

You're Preventing Contaminated Streets, Lakes, & Groundwater

Dumping your household chemicals on the ground or even washing them down the sink is bad for the groundwater, as well as larger bodies of water nearby. A lot of contamination issues can stem from improper HHW disposal - don't let it be from your doing!

You're Eliminating Exposure to Toxics for Sanitation Workers

When someone tosses household cleaners, old batteries, and other chemicals into their trash can, they put sanitation workers at risk of exposure - and not just the collection crew! Those working at the transfer stations or landfills are put at risk as well.

You're Reducing the Risk of Household Chemical Poisoning

Getting rid of leftover chemicals under your kitchen sink, in your garage, or in the basement reduces the risk of small children or pets accidentally ingesting them. When saving any chemicals for later use, be sure to set them in a secure, high place to avoid this issue.

Check below or visit our HHW page for more dates and information!

During the following HHW Collection Events, all residents of RRRASOC member communities are welcome to bring household hazardous waste for an opportunity to safely discard their hazardous items and e-waste. Simple Recycling and paper shredding services will also be available.

April 15th, 2023 👕

Wixom Dept. of Public Works

2041 Charms Rd., Wixom

9:00am - 2:00pm

April 22nd, 2023 👕

RRRASOC MRF - Truck Entrance

20875 Mapleridge Ave., Southfield

9:00am - 2:00pm

May 6th, 2023

Oakland Community College

Orchard Ridge Campus Lot 8

27055 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills

May 20th, 2023 👕

Milford Civic Center

1100 Atlantic St., Milford

Enter from West, off Mont Eagle St.

July 15th, 2023 👕

Wixom Dept. of Public Works

2041 Charms Rd., Wixom

9:00am - 2:00pm

October 7th, 2023

Novi Dept. of Public Works

26300 Lee BeGole Dr., Novi

9:00am - 2:00pm

October 28th, 2023 👕

RRRASOC MRF - Truck Entrance

20875 Mapleridge Ave., Southfield

9:00am - 2:00pm

*The T-shirt icon indicates an HHW Collection Event during which clothing, shoes, accessories, and small household items will be accepted by Simple Recycling.

For more information about HHW events and how to prepare your items, please visit our HHW page.

If you have HHW that you'd like to properly dispose of between collection events, you're in luck! Drop off your HHW without a fee at ERG Environmental Services during the following hours:

Winter Hours:

Monday - Friday:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Want more tips, tricks, and updates about recycling? We have a Facebook page where we can reach each other to make recycling easier. You can also reach us via RRRASOC.org and email at education@rrrasoc.org!

RRRASOC - Recycling Authority | 248-208-2270 | rrrasoc.org