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ALPENA — Northeast Michigan Material Management Authority (NMMMA) recently released a survey that will collect valuable feedback from residents and how they see themselves engaging in recycling services in the future.

Bailey Barr, NMMMA executive director, said that the recycling authority is hoping to receive at least a 60% response from Alpena County residents. He said that the survey will help the authority better understand the interest and needs of the community in regards to access to material management.

“Whatever data we get will impact the county,” Barr said.

Barr explained that this survey is the first step in their Northeast Michigan Regional Materials Management Planning (MMP). He said that MMPs are how Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency, and Oscoda Counties get money to help run and start their recycling programs.

According to NMMMA, all counties throughout Michigan are currently updating their

MMPs. MMPs are part of an updated Michigan law that establishes statewide recycling goals and standards.

Barr stated that the NMMMA survey is a collaboration between Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency, and Oscoda Counties.

He added that though Alcona and Iosco already have recycling programs with NMMMA, the counties “are still looking to get feedback for possible expansion.”

Barr explained that NMMMA hasn’t done a countywide survey before so it took the authority time to develop which direction they wanted to take the questions. They considered only targeting residents, business owners, or both.

He said that the authority ultimately developed the survey for “everything across the board.”

Barr added that the survey will include questions regarding pricing and accessibility for recycling services. If a resident is also a business owner, they may take the survey twice as the questions are different for each demographic.

The survey states that feedback and data gleaned from community responses will “help the counties understand current needs, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions about future investments and services.”

“Recycling not only helps protect our environment, it also supports local jobs, reduces costs for businesses and communities, and keeps valuable materials circulating in the regional economy,” the survey also states.

According to NMMMA, companies in Michigan use materials that the recycling center collects to make new products and packaging. For example, Amrize uses recycled glass in the production of cement and UP Paper in Manistisque process cardboard into togo bags used at fast food chains.

Residents of the five targeted counties have till Feb. 28 to complete and submit their responses to the survey.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.