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Press Release

Summer recycling, disposal guide helps Kent County residents reduce landfill waste

Kent County Department of Public Works provides resources for safe disposal of household materials

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – From backyard barbeques to home improvement projects, the summer season can generate a lot of waste, and the Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) has released a new guide to help residents recycle more.

The DPW’s 2026 Summer Recycling Guide shares valuable information on recycling common summer items like plastic cups, paper plates and aluminum trays used for grilling. It also provides guidance on items that can’t be placed in a curbside recycling bin – like propane tanks, fireworks and air conditioning units – and can be safely disposed of through the DPW and other local programs.

“Summer activities like outdoor gatherings, home projects and yard work can generate extra waste, and we want Kent County residents to know many of these materials don’t need to end up in landfills,” said Dar Baas, director of the DPW. “By learning about resources the DPW offers like recycling and hazardous waste collection, we can make more informed choices that help reduce landfill waste and keep our community clean and beautiful during the summer and beyond.”

The Summer Recycling Guide details items that are OK to place in a curbside recycling bin, including plastic party cups, paper plates, drink bottles, cans and cartons and aluminum foil and trays. The DPW requests that these materials be empty and wiped clean of food residue before being placed in a recycling bin. Residents can also put loose paper from last year’s homework in their curbside bins.

Some items can’t be put in a curbside recycling bin, but alternatives exist to keep them out of landfills. The Summer Recycling Guide details some of these items, including:

• Propane tanks: Residents can bring one-pound propane tanks to one of the DPW’s five SafeChem drop-off locations for free disposal. If propane tanks are larger than one pound, they can be brought to the North Kent Recycling & Waste Center or South Kent Recycling & Waste Center.
• Fireworks: Unlit fireworks might be packaged in cardboard, but they should never be placed in a recycling or trash bin. Unused, damaged or failed-to-function fireworks can be brought to one of the DPW’s SafeChem drop-off locations.
• Batteries: Lithium-ion, rechargeable and button batteries should be brought to a SafeChem location for safe disposal. Alkaline batteries should be taped and placed in the trash.
• Air conditioning units: Residents can bring broken air conditioning units to the North or South Kent Recycling & Waste Centers to be recycled for a small fee due to hazardous materials inside of them. Units that work but are not needed can be donated.
• Pool floats: While pool floats are made of plastic, they are not recyclable due to their shape and flexibility. These can be repaired with a patch, donated if they are functional or placed in the trash.
• Styrofoam: Foam polystyrene, commonly called Styrofoam, cannot be placed in a curbside recycling bin and can be dropped off at DPW’s polystyrene densifier for free at the North Kent Recycling & Waste Center. Materials should be white polystyrene wiped clean of food and other residue. The material will be compacted and baled so it can be taken to a processor and reused.
• Grilling and cooking tools: Old grilling tools are not recyclable even if they are made of metal. Instead of throwing them in the trash to be sent to a landfill, these and other unwanted metal objects should be brought to a processor like Padnos.

Find the DPW’s Summer Recycling Guide online.

The Kent County Department of Public Works provides municipal solid waste disposal services to ensure the effective removal, storage and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste through various facilities and programs, including Waste-to-Energy, the Recycling and Education Center, North Kent Transfer Station and South Kent Landfill.

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