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County survey shows recycling awareness; committee plans targeted outreach and education
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Summary
The Charlevoix County materials committee reviewed resident-survey results, highlighted recycling and millage awareness gaps, and proposed targeted education—videos, library and school outreach, and township tours—while extending distribution to increase responses.
Members of the Charlevoix County Materials Management Planning Committee reviewed the county resident survey results and discussed next steps to boost awareness and participation.
Mathew Cooke of DPA-Networks Northwest told the committee that a second, more detailed review will follow the close of the MMP County Resident Survey on Jan. 5, 2026 (the transcript lists 2025; the committee meeting took place Nov. 20, 2025). Committee comments emphasized the importance of recycling, awareness of the Charlevoix County recycling millage, and the need for more visible guidance about where collected materials go after pickup.
Members proposed a suite of education and outreach measures: producing Charlevoix-specific video content to replace generic materials used at events; conducting an education tour for libraries and townships; sending the resident survey to schools to increase distribution; and offering short MMP presentations to local units of government prior to plan implementation. Committee discussion also touched on the relative costs of curbside service versus drop-off sites and the need to educate the public on preparing recyclables—cleaning items, removing labels from tins and reducing contamination.
Cooke and the committee noted the potential reopening of a closed transfer station on Sonder Road and reiterated concerns about contamination in recycled materials. The committee directed staff to continue outreach and analysis and to return with updated survey results and recommendations for educational programming.
Procedural business at the meeting included two unanimous procedural approvals: adoption of the meeting agenda and approval of Oct. 23 minutes; exact vote counts were not recorded in the transcript.