Solid Waste Management
Household Waste Guide
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The Kent County Department of Public Works is committed to a fully integrated solid waste management system. This system includes: waste reduction, reuse, recycling, expanded education in resource recovery, incineration with energy recovery, composting and landfilling, as outlined in the Kent County Solid Waste Management Plan.
The current recycling system for refuse disposal in Kent County aims to reduce the amount of solid waste sent for final disposal by volume reduction techniques and by various resource conservation and resource recovery programs. It also addresses collection processes and transportation needs that provide the most cost effective, efficient service.
The Solid Waste Division is divided into the following areas of operation:
- Resource Recovery (Recycling)
The Resource Recovery Program promotes the extraction and reutilization of materials or energy from the solid waste stream. Recycling and composting reduce the amount of waste going to disposal sites.
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program is a service for Kent County residents. The program is designed to provide homeowners an environmentally acceptable means of disposal for hazardous household products.
- Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)
The Materials Recycling Facility (MRF, pronounced murf) is an intermediate processing facility designed to accept residential recyclable materials. These materials are delivered to the facility by providers of curbside recycling services and from the county drop-off site.
- Waste to Energy Facility
At the Waste To Energy Facility (WTE) trash is converted to steam, which is used to drive electric steam turbines. Steam can also be sent to the DHCO to supplement steam needs during the winter.
- District Heating and Cooling Operation
The District Heating and Cooling Operation (DHCO) provides steam service to downtown business and buildings. Steam is used for the purpose of heating and cooling.
- Landfill and Transfer Station Operations
The North Kent Transfer and Recycling Station receives solid waste from waste haulers and transports it a landfill. The South Kent Landfill receives municipal solid waste and incinerator ash from the WTE Facility.
Refuse collection activities within Kent County are currently handled by a combination of public and private haulers. The metropolitan cities of Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Grandville, Walker and Wyoming require all private waste haulers to be licensed within that city to haul waste.
The rate structure for the collection services is usually based on a flat monthly fee for those individuals and businesses that contract with a private waste hauler. Refuse collection is available to all homes, businesses, industries and institutions within Kent County. All communities except the City of Grand Rapids have delegated all collection to private haulers. Currently all individual residents, commercial and industrial firms in the county can contract with a private waste hauler or elect to haul their own waste to any disposal site that is available.
