WWRA History 1991 until 2009
Origins:
In 1990, ten municipalities on the western side of Washtenaw County started meeting to discuss the logistics of a non-profit recycling authority. Inspiration came from community leaders who remembered recycling efforts in World War II and were knowledgeable of the nationwide efforts to reinitiate recycling as a community responsibility. These efforts were enhanced by support from the county and the availability of recycling education grants. The Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority was officially formed in 1991, with 8 municipalities signing the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws establishing the WWRA.
An Instant Success Story
Operations started out small with a used recycling trailer, used baler, a used truck for picking up the bins, 1-2 drop off bins in each township, and small boxes for curbside recycling. These resources were purchased through the sale of bonds by Washtenaw County and repaid by annual assessments placed on each household plus revenues from the sale of product. Education programs were implemented and started showing progress almost immediately, as almost 300 tons of material was collected the first year. The WWRA was not producing enough bales to fill a semi-truck's trailer, and instead had to haul their own baled products to buyers. In addition to this challenge, recycled material markets were unsteady, causing massive day-to-day fluctuations in the value of bales.
However, the founding member's faith in the WWRA community began to pay off as material volumes continued to increase. The recycling markets started to stabilize and a solid source of income was realized. Five years into operations, the WWRA had repaid all the bonds purchased from the county for the building and equipment. Additionally, the WWRA was able to build a storage area for product, allowing us to ship full semi-truck loads to buyers. This in turn increased the revenue from the sale of the product. The WWRA was collecting over 3,000 tons of material in the year 2000, which rose to 4,000 tons by 2004. The sale of product covered more than half of the WWRA’s operating expenses, which allowed annual assessments to be less than originally projected.
Recycling Trends
Approximately 35% of each municipality's residents participate in recycling at the WWRA. This has been in contrast to state and national trends during that same time, which have shown a decrease in participation rates. The State of Michigan lead the midwest in recycling efforts in 2001, but slowly saw decreasing recycling rates throughout the decade, hitting a low around 14%. According to surveys, residents were unwilling to separate recyclable materials by type, which lead to a decrease in participation. The WWRA began to feel this loss of intake volume, with 2004 intake at 4,000 tons per year and dropping to 3,400 tons by 2009.
This led the WWRA's member municipalities to consider moving to a Single Stream recycling system. Several states mandate the use of Single Stream recycling, but Michigan allows MRF's to decide what system is used. Switching to single stream provides a significant advantage, as capture rates of recycled materials increase to as high as 75% if implemented. This also increases revenue for facilities, as it both increases intake volume and capture rate.
After 18 years of service, the majority of the WWRA's equipment was worn out and needed replacement. The baler being used was no longer being manufactured, making parts impossible to find, and repairs increasingly more difficult. The WWRA Board of Directors made the decision to move the facility forward with a Single Stream system, modern equipment, and a larger, more efficient building.