Granger

Granger

Recycling

To us, recycling to us is more than taking something old and turning it into something new. It’s about preserving our earth’s God-given resources so our children and our communities can live a happy and healthy life for years to come.

Why We Recycle

To sustain our natural resources, including timber, water and minerals

To reduce pollution and waste by eliminating the need to produce new material

To save energy

To protect our air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions

To create jobs for the collection and processing of recyclables

To increase the longevity of our landfills

Recycling by the Numbers

According to the EPA, in 2016 recycling accounted for
757,000
jobs, which equates to 1.57 jobs for every 1,000 tons of materials recycled.		 250,000,000
trees could be saved each year by recycling all of your old newspapers.		 1
year of recycling equals
6
years of power.		 Using old paper to make new paper requires
30-50%
less energy.
Recycling
12
plastic bottles can power an air conditioner for one hour.		 5
plastic bottles provide enough recyclable material to make one square foot of carpet or fiber to fill one ski jacket.		 Recycling
2,000
pounds of plastic bottles saves the amount of energy used by a two-person household for one year.		 Together, Granger customers recycle more than
54,000,000
pounds each year.

What Can Be Recycled?

A guide to residential recycling

It’s important to recycle right. Keeping contamination out of the recycling stream keeps the process less expensive and more sustainable.

Corrugated Cardboard

Includes items like:

cardboard boxes often used for shipping, transporting and storing.

Does not include:

wax-coated cardboard, cardboard meant to keep products cold or hot, like 6-, 12- or 24-pack beverage cases and frozen dinner packaging.

How to Prep:

Remove anything inside boxes, safely break down and flatten cardboard; place in cart

Plastic Bottles, Jugs, Tubs & Containers

Includes items like:

 nondeposit plastic beverage bottles and lids (water, tea, juice, etc.); plastic bottles and lids (shampoo, conditioner, soap, mouthwash, etc.); plastic food tubs, containers and lids (margarine, sour cream, yogurt, dips, etc.); plastic jugs and lids (milk, juice, detergent, cooking oil, vinegar, etc.).

Does not include:

plastic shopping bags, clothing hangers, plastic zip top bags, wax-coated cartons, foam containers/packaging, rubber (garden hoses. tires, gloves), inflatables, toys, pools, buckets, laundry baskets, barrels, free-flowing liquids.

How to Prep:

Remove contaminants and rinse clean and dry; caps and lids may be left on

Mixed Paper

Includes items like:

newspaper, magazines, direct mail, postcards, first class mail, envelopes, letterhead, writing and office papers, phone books, manuals, instruction guides.

Does not include:

wax-coated cardboard, plastic wrapping or bags, string, twine, sticker paper, shopping receipts.

How to Prep:

Remove any nonrecyclables

Clear & Colored Glass Bottles and Containers

Includes items like:

clear and colored glass jars and bottles (pickle jars, mason jars, wine and liquor bottles, nondeposit beverage glass, etc.)

Does not include:

barware, glassware or drinking glass, corks, Pyrex and other glass cookware, window panes, mirrors, plate glass or automobile glass, light bulbs.

How to Prep:

Remove lids and anything inside; metal lids can be recycled separately

Boxboard

Includes items like:

tissue boxes, cereal boxes, cracker/snack boxes, dried pasta boxes, paper towel rolls, shoe boxes, toothpaste boxes

Does not include:

plastic wrapping, wax- or foil-coated boxes, refrigerator or freezer boxes, including frozen meal boxes and 6-, 12-, or 24-pack beverage cases

How to Prep:

Remove anything inside (food, plastic, foil coating) and flatten

Metal Cans & Foil

Includes items like:

empty canned goods (sauce, soup, vegetables, fruit, tuna, etc.); nondeposit beverage containers (juice, tea, water); clean aluminum foil.

Does not include:

paint cans, appliances, hangers, fencing, scrap metal, aerosol cans, contaminated or dirty tin and aluminum.

How to Prep:

Empty and rinse clean of contaminants; labels do not need to be removed

Granger Recycling Center

In 1989, we made a commitment to responsible environmental management by building our Recycling Center on Wood Road in Lansing. Recyclable materials from our residential and collection, as well as our drop-off centers, is sorted and baled in this facility before being sent on to a recycling processor.

Come take a tour and see for yourself!

Recycling Drop-offs

We own and operate two recycling drop-offs that are free for you to recycle various household materials.

Lansing Recycling Drop-off

16936 Wood Road, Lansing, MI 48906
(Driveway No. 6)
Get Directions »

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

More Information

Jackson Recycling Drop-off

2600 Lansing Ave., Jackson, MI 49202
(Driveway No. 3)
Get Directions »

Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 4 PM
Saturday, 8 AM – Noon

More Information

 

We also provide drop-off centers in many municipalities. Contact your municipality for more information, as hours and accepted materials for recycling vary.

Recycling Blog Posts

Learn more about our recycling with Granger.

Plastic by the Numbers

You’ve no doubt seen the resin identification code on plastic items, although you might not know what it’s called. It’s that symbol with the arrows chasing each other around and a number in the middle. Contrary to popular belief, this code does not automatically indicate that an item is recyclable. It was developed in the […]

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Three Tips for Making Every Day Earth Day

Saving the environment and protecting the earth can be a big job. If you think too much about it, it can be really daunting. The good news is, there are small actions you can turn into habits that will have a lasting impact. Here are top tips for easy changes you can make in your […]

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Big Cleanup? Granger’s Here to Help

Getting ready to do a big spring (or any time of the year) cleaning? It’s a daunting task, but Granger can help. Here are some things to remember if you’re cleaning out a garage, attic or basement (or all of the above). Reuse/Recycling Rather than tossing that stuff in the trash, consider the options you […]

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Recycling Isn’t Magic. It’s Business.

Recycling is one of those things we do that’s become kind of mystical in its significance. We know it’s good for the environment—it saves energy, helps preserve natural resources and decreases waste. All those completely justified warm and fuzzy feelings make it easy to forget that recycling is also a business and practical business concerns […]

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