Michiganders set a new recycling record, collecting 800,940 tons of materials from fiscal year 2024 to 2025.聽The total recycled tonnage translates to nearly 158 pounds of cardboard boxes, milk cartons, soup cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, food waste and other recyclable materials per person over a 12-month period.
EGLE researchers reported these findings, noting Michiganders recycled 60,000 tons of glass, 577,000 tons of paper and paper products and 41,000 tons of plastics and plastic products.
The combined total of recyclables is the equivalent of the weight of 10 Mackinac Bridges. This amount would fill the football stadiums of the Detroit Lions, University of Michigan and Michigan State University. The recyclables would also fill the 125-acre Detroit Zoo.