File photo Maggie Connor deposits cardboard into a recycling bin in Alpena

ALPENA — Big things are in the works for the recycling program in Alpena County.

With a new recycling authority formed, plans are moving forward to have a new recycling center constructed recycling officials plan to offer more services, including allowing residents to recycle glass, which is unavailable now.

Recently, Alpena, Alpena County, and all of the townships in the county voted to form a recycling authority that will oversee recycling operations in the county. The authority, which is called the Northeast Michigan Materials Management Authority, will meet for the first time to begin to hash out some of the remaining logistics.

Cindy Johnson, Alpena Recycling Recovery Board chairwoman, said much work remains, but most of the remaining tasks are organizational work.

The Alpena Recycling Recovery Board oversees recycling in Alpena until the new authority takes the reins.

“The authority has been formed, but we still have to get our policy and procedures in order, our bylaws, and a few things we haven’t done yet,” Johnson said. “We have a host of things to do, yet, and we’re working to get our ducks in a row.”

Johnson said the new recycling center to be built on Airport Road is moving closer to reality. Officials estimate the cost of the new building at about $5.4 million, and officials have already raised about 75% of that amount.

The cost of the project could increase by about $500,000 because of rising costs, but Johnson said it’s too early to know for sure.

Johnson said the local recycling project received a $2.7 million grant from the federal government, $500,000 from Alpena County, $1 million from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and $15,000 each from a pair of corporate grants. She said the authority will also seek grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Johnson said construction could begin in 2024.

And a new partnership with Lafarge Alpena could lead to the recycling of glass in Alpena County.

“This is huge for everyone who has wanted to recycle glass locally,” she said. “Lafarge will take the glass, crush it up, and mix it in their product instead of using sand. We still have to get estimates on the collection bins, but I’m hopeful we can get it going in the next few months.”

The new authority board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Jan 19 at the Alpena Township office. It is open to the public.

Johnson said Alpena, Alpena County, and Alpena Township each have a pair of representatives on the authority board and the outlying townships each have one.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.