Michigan’s recycling rate at a record high

The recycling rate in the State of Michigan is at a record high for the fifth consecutive year, according to a new analysis of data that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The EGLE research shows Michigan has steadily increased its recycling rate from 14.25 percent before 2019 to over 25 percent in FY2025, and is now 26 percent for FY2026. EGLE forecasts that Michigan is on track to achieve the state’s goal of a 30 percent recycling rate by 2029.

From fiscal year (FY) 2024 to 2025, Michiganders increased their recycling to a total tonnage of 800,940 tons. Michiganders recycled more than 60,000 tons of glass, 577,000 tons of paper and paper products, and 41,000 tons of plastics and plastic products.

This equates to every person in Michigan recycling nearly 158 pounds of cardboard boxes, milk cartons, soup cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, food waste and other recyclable materials over a 12-month span, EGLE researchers found.

The combined total of recyclables is the equivalent of the weight of 10 Mackinac Bridges and would fill the football stadiums of the Detroit Lions, University of Michigan and Michigan State University, plus filling the 125-acre Detroit Zoo.

Recycling in Michigan supports 72,500 jobs and contributes more than $17 billion a year to the state’s economy, according to an analysis by EGLE’s NextCycle Michigan Initiative.

EGLE and national nonprofit The Recycling Partnership have together rolled out more than 353,000 new curbside recycling carts in 35 communities statewide, serving more than a combined 1.2 million Michiganders since 2019.

Published May 2026