Recycling

Isabella County Recycling Center/Materials Recovery Facility

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe utilizes the Isabella County Recycling Center/Material Recovery Facility(ICMRF) for proper waste disposal and management practices. MRF’s goal is to promote recycling within Isabella County to support local jobs, save energy, and conserve our valuable natural resources.

ICMRF accepts cardboard, newspaper, soft cover books, office paper, food grade tin/aluminum, clear glass jars, plastic, small nonfood grade metals and Styrofoam. Additionally, for a fee ICMRF will accept automotive oil, antifreeze, brush & yard waste, Christmas trees and tires. Click to view fees information

If you would like to start recycling curbside and reside in Isabella County call 989-773-9631 to start curbside pickup. Click to view Recycling Collection Schedule information. Click to view MRF Holiday Schedule information.

Isabella County's Community Sharps Collection program provides free sharps disposal for permanent residents. Personal sharps containers are available at local pharmacies for purchase. For more information please call 989-773-9631. Click to view Sharps Collection Sites webpage.

SCIT Recycles

One of SCIT’s guiding principles is to follow cultural teachings that tell us, “As human beings, our original responsibility is to care for our Earth in the same way as she cares for us. By working together to protect Mother Earth, we keep her beautiful and healthy. In turn, she keeps us all healthy, both for our generation and the next seven generations to come.” As a Tribal community we can strive to achieve environmental sustainability within our own community, homes, workplaces, and backyards

Maamwi Naak-do-wen-man-daa Shkakamikwe (Let’s Take Care of Mother Earth Together)

Minimize your environmental impacts:

Please help clean up and keep clean our Tribal lands and waters, parking lots, sidewalks, buildings, trails, and spaces. You can make a difference by practicing responsible hiking, walking, or outdoor recreation by picking up just one piece of trash. You can start small with things that could fit in your pocket like candy wrappers or plastic waste, then progress to larger items and bring a trash bag when you are able. Prevent the spread invasive species: Be sure to be good stewards and take action while adventuring!

Stay on marked and/or designated trails. Carry a handheld boot brush in your backpack. Before leaving, clean your footwear and gear. Be sure to scrape off dirt and debris. To learn about local invasive species, view MISIN - Midwest Invasive Species Network. See how you can take further actions to prevent the spread of invasive species visit: Take Action - PlayCleanGo.

Reasons to pick up trash:

Protects Mother Earth and wildlife; prevents water pollution; promotes public health; can inspire others to take action; reduces greenhouse gas emissions; conserves natural resources; supports environmental education and stewardship; improves mental health; encourages community engagement; creates a cleaner, safer community; supports local conservation efforts; and sets a good example for the next generations to come.

Safety:

Be sure to always use care and best judgement when picking up garbage - wear close-toed shoes and protective gloves or use a trash grabber for items that may be sharp or hazardous. Safety first – only pick up trash that is safe to handle and can be easily disposed of or recycled. Avoid touching litter directly and do not touch your face while cleaning up. If you do not have a trash grabber a repurposed pair of BBQ or salad tongs can work as a pickup device. If it is not clean – it cannot be recycled, meaning if it is moldy or is not relatively clean you can throw it in the trash bag. Bring hand sanitizer if you are able and be sure to wash your hands as soon as you have finished. Leave hazardous items such as: needles, medical waste, syringes, batteries, oil drums, and canisters ALONE as these may not be safe and have specific waste instructions and regulations

Actions:

Volunteer for cleanup and stewardship events within the Tribe, college, city, and county. Build your connection with the natural world and with your community through enjoying time outdoors. Buy locally produced or organic foods. Walk, bicycle, or use public transportation when available to minimize your vehicle and energy usage. Reduce your consumption, prevent additional waste when able, reuse, and recycle. We can help pollinators by improving our landscapes by planting native lawns, gardens, large-scale plots, plants, and trees. Do what you can, when you can – every little bit counts and can make a difference. Install bat houses and/or nest boxes for native pollinators. Pollinators need water to survive especially during hot summer months. Add a water source to your garden, such as a birdbath with pebbles or a shallow dish filled with water.

To learn more about local pollinator information view the SCIT Pollinator Guide.

To learn more information about local butterflies view the SCIT Great Lakes Butterfly Guide.

Links of Interest

• Isabella County Recycling Center/MRF
• Isabella County Backyard Composting
• Recycle Coach, Resident
• Michigan Recycling Coalition
• EGLE Recycling
• EGLE Learn About Waste Management
• EGLE, Recycling 101
• EGLE, How Do I Handle This Waste?
• EGLE Practical Tips for Home and Yard to Improve Water Quality
• EGLE Recycling Raccoons
• EPA: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• EPA, Reducing Waste: What You Can Do
• EPA Household Carbon Footprint Calculator
• EPA Sustainable Management of Electronics
• EPA Safer Choice: Looking for Safer Cleaning and Other Products
• EPA What You Can Do About Climate Change - Waste
• EPA, Think Green Before You Shop
• Michigan Recycling Directory Map | RecycleSearch
• Climate Action Table of Solutions | Project Drawdown