KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Wednesday, Bell’s Brewery announced the formation of a new recycling “co-op” that will divert an estimated 26,000 pounds of plastic per year from Michigan landfills.
The collaborative led by the Kalamazoo Nature Center and Bell’s Brewery, applied for and received a $12,000 Recycling Market Development Grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
According to Bell’s, the participants include the following businesses:
- One Well Brewing,
- Latitude 42 Brewing Company
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s sustainable brewing program
- Handmap Brewing (Battle Creek)
- Final Gravity
- Territorial Brewing Company (also located in Battle Creek)
In addition, the natural hops, spice and herb extract provider Kalsec is participating as well. The participants will help out by collecting and contributing material to this initiative.
Officials say that this co-op is based on a similar program developed by Great Divide Brewing Co. The grant was used to purchase two balers – One provides a recycling outlet for bags made of woven polypropylene that are used for brewing grains, like barley, and other ingredients that come in large quantities.
“These bags, which also include super sacks (bulk bags that can hold up to 3,000 lbs.) are recyclable,” Bell’s Sustainability Specialist Kate Martini said in a statement. “The problem was that up until now, none of us had access to a viable recycling outlet for it. In order to make this material viable for a recycler, we needed to have truck loads of the stuff, which most breweries do not generate on their own, even here at Bell’s. We also needed equipment to bale all of it for transport.”
The grant facilitated the purchase of the baling equipment. By inviting other breweries and manufacturers to participate, officials say minimum quantities will be met.
Officials add that the second baler will be used to consolidate cardboard from participating partners. Baling cardboard makes it eligible for a small rebate and the revenue from this material stream is used to sustain the program. It also has the added benefit of alleviating the need for partners to pay for their own small-scale cardboard recycling program.
Finished bales of material will be processed through a partnership with Padnos in Grand Rapids and their Kalamazoo partner AJ’s Recycling Services.
Those interested in becoming a co-op partner should fill out this form.
Readers can visit bellsbeer.com for more on Bell’s sustainability initiatives.
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