Three Companies Compete for Operation of Ann Arbor, Mich.’s Recycling Plant

In 2015, Ann Arbor, Mich., officials began to question whether North Carolina-based ReCommunity, the private operator of its recycling plant, was a good partner. Shortly after that, the City of Ann Arbor terminated its contract with the company, which resulted in ReCommunity filing a federal lawsuit against the City of Ann Arbor in July 2016 for wrongfully terminating its contract.

While the city and ReCommunity battled it out in court, the Ann Arbor City Council approved a $295,690 emergency purchase order for Waste Management to provide its services to the city for at least six weeks in August. That deal was then extended in an effort to avoid interrupting both residential and commercial solid waste and recycling services.

After much debate, the Ann Arbor City Council agreed to reimburse ReCommunity for cost of a baler and start a search for a new operator for its recycling plant.

The city is now reviewing three proposals from Waste Management, Emterra Environmental and nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor. One of the three proposals is slated to go to the City Council for approval in January 2017, ultimately leading to operation of the recycling plant in February.

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