The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) joined local and state partners in Marquette to name the Upper Peninsula recipients receiving a shared $1.4 million in 2026 Recycling Infrastructure Grants.
Upper Peninsula communities receiving FY 2026 Recycling Infrastructure Grants are:
- Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority (MCSWMA) – $143,000 to purchase a curb tender truck to self-haul recyclables from businesses and multifamily dwellings.
- Cities of Iron Mountain and Kingsford – $299,000 to purchase curbside carts and implement community-wide recycling.
- City of Ishpeming – $117,000 to purchase curbside carts.
- Western Upper Peninsula Planning Development Region – $825,000 to assist with drop-off site improvement and expansion.
- TRICO Opportunities Inc. of Kingsford – $30,000 to purchase a straight truck that will improve recyclable materials collection.
EGLE director Phillip Roos toured the MCSWMA’s material recovery facility, which processes recyclable materials from across Marquette County using single-stream recycling technology capable of sorting approximately 600 tons of recyclable material each month. The facility uses a SamurAI robotic sorting system that helps recover recyclable materials more efficiently by using artificial intelligence and a robotic arm to identify and sort recyclable items at speeds of up to 70 picks per minute, nearly twice the rate of manual sorting. The technology helps improve recovery rates, maintains efficient operations during periods of high volume and allows staff to focus on additional material processing, strengthening recycling efforts.
EGLE supported the facility’s transition to single-stream recycling through an $800,000 Recycling Infrastructure Grant in 2019, helping the MCSWMA to improve recycling operations and better serve Upper Peninsula communities.
Roos also toured MCSWMA’s Reverse Osmosis Treatment Plant, an innovative system supported by a $7 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) investment. The facility can treat up to 50,000 gallons of landfill leachate each day, removing PFAS and other contaminants before treated water is safely discharged, helping protect nearby waterways and the Great Lakes watershed.
The grant announcement reflects Michigan’s continued commitment to protecting the state’s air, land and water through the FY 2027 budget. The budget includes $217.9 million to clean up contaminated sites, $42.4 million for drinking water and environmental health programs, and $24 million for dam safety improvements. Together, these investments are helping communities reduce pollution, protect public health, strengthen environmental resilience, and protect the Great Lakes for future generations.
Published August 2026
