Flint, Michigan – A change as simple as putting wheels and a lid on a recycling bin has helped reshape how much material Flint keeps out of the waste stream. Two years after thousands of new carts began appearing outside homes across the city, recycling has climbed to a level Flint has never recorded before.
The numbers show a sharp shift. Flint residents recycled about 624 tons of material annually before the city moved to its cart-based program. According to the 2026 analysis, that figure has now grown to more than 2,200 tons per year, an increase of 253%.
City, county and state officials gathered Monday to mark the milestone and recognize the expansion of Flint’s recycling program. Mayor Sheldon Neeley was joined by City of Flint Waste Services Coordinator Heather Griffin, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Director Phillip Roos, Genesee County leaders and neighborhood recycling advocates.
The progress follows a major change launched in 2024, when more than 68,000 free trash and recycling carts were distributed to over 34,000 Flint households. The rollout moved the city toward rolling, lidded carts designed to make curbside recycling easier and more practical for residents.
City officials say the carts have done more than increase the amount of recyclable material being collected. The program has expanded recycling access, encouraged greater participation, helped reduce neighborhood blight and improved working conditions for sanitation employees with Flint’s contracted waste hauler, Priority Waste.
“This is a great example of what happens when we invest in our residents and make it easier for them to participate,” Neeley said.
“Flint residents are recycling more, and that is something our entire community can be proud of. We are building on that progress as we look toward the proposed Genesee County Recycling & Education Center and continued investment in recycling infrastructure.”
That proposed center could become the next major piece of the region’s recycling efforts. Supported by funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Genesee County Recycling & Education Center is intended to expand recycling infrastructure and educational opportunities across the area.
Monday’s event also highlighted the community side of Flint’s recycling growth, with neighborhood advocates participating in the celebration. Frank, EGLE’s Recycling Raccoon mascot, joined officials and residents as the city recognized the new record.
For Flint, the milestone provides a measurable look at how quickly recycling habits can change when participation becomes easier. In just two years, the city has moved from recycling hundreds of tons annually to more than 2,200 tons, setting a new high while laying the groundwork for further regional investment.