Facilities

Michigan’s Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners passed amendments June 1 that help lay the groundwork for a proposed $4 million construction and demolition (C&D) recycling facility and transfer station to be built within the county, News Channel 3 reports.

The amendments pertain to the Kalamazoo County solid waste management plan, which was drafted in 1998 and formerly prohibited the construction of a C&D recycling facility.

Mulder’s Landscape Supplies Inc. and Waste Not Recycling LLC are the proposed owners and operators of the 5-acre site.

According to News Channel 3, Waste Not Recycling owner Ken Hoving said the facility would be the only one of its kind within more than 90 miles. The facility would be composed of two connected buildings totaling 20,000 square feet and the operators would have the option to add 15,000 square feet in the future.

As with many proposed waste and recycling facilities, the Kalamazoo facility has garnered pushback from some in the community worried about noise, traffic and other nuisances; however, a company spokesperson said steps would be taken to minimize noise, dust and visible debris.

Despite some concerned residents, Kalamazoo County Commissioner John Gisler believes the facility will be a positive for the community.

“I have utmost confidence in companies involved here that will do whatever it takes to make this is a good thing for the community,” Gisler says.

Before the facility can be constructed, the state and two-thirds of township boards in Kalamazoo County need to green light the project.

“I do believe it’s going to work out,” Gisler says.

If approved, construction could begin in 2022.

Once operational, the recycling center would employ 20 full-time workers, help divert materials from landfill and enhance the local economy, a spokesperson for the companies says.