To sign up for any of the upcoming Recycling Community Engagement Sessions PREREGISTER HERE

Community leaders are coming together to investigate the opportunities and challenges of recycling, and they want your input. A series of public engagement sessions are being held throughout Shiawassee County during February, March, and April. 

 “We are all leaders,” said facilitator Kari Krantz, “and we want everyone’s input. Future successful recycling initiatives throughout the county can only happen if they are supported by area residents.” 

Key stakeholders in the effort, representing local governments, business groups, and community nonprofits, are working together to identify opportunities, build a sustainable economy, create jobs, reduce environmental impacts, and improve the quality of life for all residents. The Cook Family Foundation is providing logistical support for the collaborative effort.  

“We already have a number of strong recycling assets in our community,” said Tom Cook, Executive Director of the Cook Family Foundation. “They include the DJ Root Recycling Center and the Greater Laingsburg Recyclers. Businesses like Great Lakes Fusion are discovering the economic opportunities in sustainable practices.”

A new State law (Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act) requires Shiawassee County to submit a comprehensive plan that demonstrates new mechanisms to reduce existing materials waste presently going to landfills. Plans must include a description of how communities are engaged in the planning process. Development of the plan is the responsibility of the Shiawassee County Materials Waste Management Committee.

A convergence of these separate initiatives has resulted in the formation of a County Recycling Workgroup, made up of key stakeholders from the public and private sector, including the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership.  Also participating are Shiawassee County and the cities of Owosso, Durand and Corunna, the Shiawassee Regional Education Service District, Memorial Healthcare, The Arc of Mid-Michigan, Greater Laingsburg Recycling, and the Shiawassee Community Foundation and their Youth Advisory Council.

The Workgroup met for the first time on Thursday, January 30th at Baker College in Owosso and set forth a Charter agreement with a vision of collaboratively creating in the Shiawassee region  ”a robust recycling program that builds a stronger, sustainable local economy”.  Meeting with the public to gain their thoughts and ideas was an agreed priority. 

Public input began with a series of Youth Engagement Sessions, designed to tap into the ideas of local high school students. A culminating outcome of these sessions is to involve high school students from all county districts in developing unique recycling initiatives with start-up funds allocated for each district. High school students from Corunna, Morrice, and Owosso have already participated in a session in their home schools and are eager to work on recycling projects to be implemented this spring.            

Community engagement specialist Kari Krantz is leading a series of listening sessions starting this month. The schedule for the Community Engagement Sessions is as follows (PREREGISTER HERE): 

                   Recycling Community Engagement Sessions

LAINGSBURG (United Methodist Church) – Thursday, April 3, 5:30-7:00 p.m.                         

BYRON (Byron Municipal Building) – Tuesday, April 8, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

MORRICE (Morrice Elementary School) – Wednesday, April 9, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

OWOSSO (Owosso Armory) – Saturday, April 12, 12:30-2:00 p.m.

For additional information about the Community Engagement Sessions or the High School youth activities, please email Kari Krantz, at info@kskconsultancy.com or call (989) 277-6531.

For general information about this county-wide effort, please contact Lorraine Austin at the Cook Family Foundation at (989) 277-7337.