There’s finally a city-owned recycling drop-off center in the cards for Hollanders after officials approved a land deal and accepted a state grant during a regular meeting March 4.
Holland City Council approved a real estate agreement with PADNOS Retail to build a recycling center on property that already holds the Black River Recycling Center at Chicago Drive and Lakewood Boulevard in Holland Township.
Holland is being gifted a portion of the property at no cost. The location, officials said, offers easy access for both residents and commercial traffic.
Assistant City Manager Matt Van Dyken told councilmembers using the site significantly reduces the center’s operational footprint. The agreement formalizes a partnership between PADNOS, the municipality and other parties to offer services not readily available in other communities.
Councilmembers also voted to accept a Recycling Infrastructure Grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy totaling $1 million. The reimbursement grant is part of a statewide program to expand recycling access, boost collection and processing capacity, and increase participation.
Holland budgeted $1.6 million for the development before the grant, with construction expected to cost about $1.5 million.
The agreement follows several years of work by the Holland Recycling Task Force, which began studying options in 2021 after broader conversations about recycling began in 2020. The development presents an alternate to a project proposed in partnership with Ottawa County in 2023 off Pine Avenue.
The new center is expected to accept a wide range of materials, including plastics, steel cans, scrap metal, electronics, appliances with or without refrigerant, tires and mattresses.
Mayor Nathan Bocks praised the project during the meeting March 4, saying he couldn’t be happier or prouder.
Van Dyken said staffers hope to issue a request for proposals this spring, with the facility potentially opening within 12-18 months.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
(This story was updated to fix a misspelling or typo.)
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hollanders one step closer to recycling drop-off center
Reporting by Austin Metz, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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