Waste Reduction

Go to waste reduction guide

Every SOCRRA resident throws out an average of 4-5 pounds of garbage each day – or about ONE TON of garbage each year. You and your family have the ability to change how much you throw away.

We are pleased that you have shown an interest in finding a responsible alternative to dealing with your "unwanted" items. This Waste Reduction Guide lists businesses and groups throughout the SOCRRA communities which provide you with alternatives to throwing items away. We hope you will be pleasantly surprised at the many organizations that repair, recycle, buy, sell and accept donations of used items.

If you have revisions or additions to the Guide, please e-mail us at socrra@socrra.org.

For information from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on landfill prohibited materials and appropriate disposal options, click here for more information

Check out these 3 great sites:

The Freecycle Network - www.freecycle.org

The Freecycle Network is a project of RISE, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission includes reducing waste, generating employment training and fostering cooperation between other nonprofit organizations and the public.  It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns.  Freecycle provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items.  One person's trash can truly be another's treasure!

Arts & Scraps - www.artsandscraps.org

16135 Harper, Detroit, MI 48224   (313/640-4411)
Mission Statement: To provide children with affordable and creative experiences using recycled industrial scraps to actively involve them in learning, increase their confidence and encourage independent thinking.

Take the I-94 Cadieux exit, #223.  Turn south towards the lake.  Immediately turn right on Harper (the first intersection) - go 3/4 mile.  Located on the right, behind a wrought iron fence and parking lot. 
Look for the glass globe lights on the gate and signs on the building.
Public hours - Tuesday - 11-6, Thursday - 11-6, Saturday 11-4

The Scrap Box - www.scrapbox.org

581 State Circle, Ann Arbor, MI 48108   (734/994-4420)
A place for creative recycling where you will find a large assortment of unique materials which manufacturers and businesses would otherwise send to landfills: remnants, samples, seconds, and scraps.  This good "junk" can be recycled into useful materials for art classes, learning games, science experiments,
crafts and other expressions of creativity.
Public hours - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - 10-6; Saturday - 10-2
 

Waste Reduction Guide

Check here for more ways to reduce waste: Waste Reduction Guide