The Marshall Recycling Center is changing!

What to expect in 2016:

In an effort to produce higher quality recycling, reduce our carbon footprint, and offer a more cost-effective method of recycling, the Calhoun County Solid Waste Program is converting the Marshall Recycling Center into a staffed recycling center. The new recycling center will be modeled after the successful Albion Recycling Center which opened in February 2015.

PHASE I

Why change?

The current drop-off recycling center uses roll-off bins which need to be emptied several times a week. Not only is it expensive to empty the bins, the recycling inside the bins is heavily contaminated with items that are not recyclable at the center. Contamination with items such as Styrofoam, furniture, carpet, plastic bags and film, rigid plastic toys and furniture, and medical waste place the recycling collected in the bins at risk for rejection at Material Recovery Facilities. Highly contaminated recycling can end up in landfills, whichis what we are trying to avoid.

By switching to a staffed recycling center and operating the center using the successful Albion Recycling Center model, recycling center operating costs will significantly be reduced -- nearly in half, recycling commodities will have a higher market value due to low contamination, and the carbon footprint will be reduced by hauling the recyclables a shorter distance.

Why are the hours changing?

During the transition to the new staffed recycling center model, the center will only be open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm. Gates will be closed and locked between hours of operation. The Calhoun County Public Health Department will have staff members at the recycling center to educate the recyclers and answer questions. The goals are to have recyclers prepared for the new staffed Phase IIrecycling center prior to its opening and to reduce the amount of contamination in the recycling center roll-off bins. The center’s gate will only be open during its hours of operation.

Please be Earth friendly and do not litter the recycling center by leaving your recycling and trash at the center when it is closed. Saturday hours will return once the new center is constructed.

Phase II

How will the staffed Phase II recycling center operate?

Recyclers will drive up to an unloading area where recycling center staff and volunteers will unload vehicles. Recyclers will be asked to bring recycling sorted into specific categories such as water bottles, milk jugs, tin cans, and clear glass bottles. The staff and volunteers will place the recyclables into special boxes and bags that are loaded into a semi-trailer. Recyclers will never have to leave their car!

Other recycling options:

The Calhoun County Solid Waste Program invites you to visit the Albion Recycling Center to get a preview of how the new Marshall Recycling Center will operate. It is open to all county residents.

Albion Recycling Center

216 N. Eaton St.

Monday 10 am to 2 pm

Wednesday 2 pm to 6 pm

Saturday 10 am to 2 pm

County residents may also participate in the rotating recycling center program. The roll-off recycling bins used in this program are single-stream meaning that recyclables such as glass, newspaper, water bottles, and cardboard all go into the same recycling bin. The following townships and village have drop-off recycling bins one weekend per month:

  • 2nd Weekend:

Bedford Charter Township, 115 S. Uldriks Dr., Battle Creek, MI 49037

  • 3rd Weekend:

Clarence Township, 27052 R Dr. N., Albion, MI 49224

  • 4th Weekend:

Athens Village, 129 E. Burr Oak St., Athens, MI 49011

Pennfield Township, 20260 Capital Ave. N.E., Battle Creek, MI 49017

For more information about recycling, please contact the Calhoun County Public Health Department at (269) 969-6341. You may also visit the website at
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