Bay Area Recycling for Community runs its Traverse City drop-off facility near Chums Corner, beside the Beach Bums ballpark, and the building is also where most of the waste BARC collects gets sorted. Drop-offs are accepted only during posted hours, which currently fall on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The nonprofit started in 2008 with one man and one truck and now runs 20 full-time employees, eight trucks, and dozens of trailers across Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Benzie, and Manistee counties. Accepted items run from paper, cardboard, glass, and plastics #1 to #7 to tires, mattresses, refrigerators, electronics, fluorescent tubes, car batteries, and construction and demolition waste.
NonprofitDrop-offCardboardPaperGlassPlastics+4 more
Accepts: Paper and cardboard, Glass, Plastics #1 to #7, Tin and aluminum cans, Tires, Mattresses, Electronics, TVs and monitors, Refrigerators and freezers, Large appliances, Fluorescent bulbs, Car and household batteries, Construction and demolition waste, Shrink wrap
Services: Public drop-off · At-home recycling pickup · Business recycling · Electronics recycling · Refrigerator and mattress recycling · Construction and demolition recycling
Where is the BARC drop-off in Traverse City?
The facility sits at 466 US 31 South near Chums Corner by the Beach Bums Baseball Stadium.
Does BARC pick up recycling at homes?
Yes. BARC offers at-home recycling service across Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Benzie, and Manistee counties.
eRecycle TC is a local company based in Traverse City that collects and recycles old and unused electronics, computers, and technology for businesses and organizations throughout Northern Michigan. They offer hard drive degaussing and destruction services, both on-site and in-house.
ComputersLaptopsCell phonesUPS backup unitsNetwork switchesDocking stations+5 more
The 2650 LaFranier Road address is Grand Traverse County’s Resource Recovery / RecycleSmart office and event location, not a permanent public drop-off center. Use the County’s finder for current recycling locations and call the RecycleSmart hotline for program guidance.
County Recycling ProgramResource Recovery OfficeDrop-off Locations Finder
Listed hours: Mon-Sun Open 24 hours
Services: County recycling program office
Can I drop off regular recycling at this address?
The County and Michigan EGLE sources identify permanent drop-off locations elsewhere; contact RecycleSmart for local options.
PADNOS Traverse City Recycling Center is located in Traverse City, MI, and offers recycling services for metals, electronics, and junk vehicles. The site is known for providing convenient access to recycling and sustainable disposal options for residents.
CopperAluminumSteelBrassScrap vehiclesElectronics+6 more
Listed hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Sat 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Sun Closed
The Grand Traverse County Resource Recovery Department, also known as RecycleSmart, aims to protect public health and the environment by efficiently managing waste materials with a focus on resource conservation. They offer various recycling services to residents, including battery recycling, curbside recycling, drop-off recycling sites, household hazardous waste disposal, and a Take It Back Recycling Directory. The department also conducts education outreach programs and provides information on composting and waste haulers. Visitors can learn about upcoming events such as household hazardous waste and scrap tire collections, as well as the department's mission to conserve resources and protect the environment. Grand Traverse County emphasizes listening to community needs and focuses on areas such as protecting the environment, supporting a diverse economy, maintaining a healthy community, and effective communication. For more information or to make appointments for waste drop-offs, visitors can contact the department through their website or by phone at 231-941-5555.
Battery RecyclingCurbside RecyclingDrop-off Recycling SitesHousehold Hazardous Waste DisposalTake It Back Recycling Directorycounty resource recovery+3 more
Listed hours: Mon Closed · Tue-Thu 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM · Fri Closed · Sat 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM · Sun Closed
Services: Resource-recovery programs · Recycling information and education
What is RecycleSmart?
Grand Traverse County says RecycleSmart is the name of its resource-recovery programs provided to residents.
Where is the county Resource Recovery office?
The county lists Resource Recovery (RecycleSmart) at 2650 LaFranier Road, Traverse City, Michigan 49686.
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Materials Accepted in Traverse City
Based on the listings above, materials commonly handled in Traverse City include Appliances, Nonprofit, Drop-off, Cardboard, Paper. Browse the guides below for preparation tips, scrap values, and what's recyclable.
GFL Environmental holds the City of Traverse City's exclusive hauling contract, so curbside recycling, yard waste, and bulky pickup inside city limits all run through GFL's city line at (231) 943-8088. Grand Traverse County's RecycleSmart department runs the drop-off recycling sites any county household can use. The county also handles hazardous waste events and the Keystone Road brush site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Traverse City have curbside recycling?
Yes. The city contracts exclusively with GFL Environmental for all hauling within city limits, and curbside recycling is part of that contract. Call GFL at (231) 943-8088 to start service, get a cart, or book bulky item and yard waste pickup. Any Grand Traverse County household can also recycle at the county's RecycleSmart drop-off sites.
What can I put in my recycling in Traverse City?
GFL takes glass jars and wine bottles in all colors, metal cans, empty aerosol cans, foil, and trays. Paper items include cardboard, boxboard, food and beverage cartons, newspaper, magazines, office paper, mail, cups, and pizza boxes. Plastics #1 through #7 go in, such as milk jugs and detergent bottles. Keep out garden hoses, lawn furniture, mirrors, light bulbs, windows, TVs, car parts, paper plates, napkins, and paper towels.
Where do I take hazardous waste in Traverse City?
Grand Traverse County runs household hazardous waste collection events by appointment only. Each household drops off up to 150 pounds free, and anything above that costs $1.30 per pound, paid by cash or check. Appointments open about one month before each event. The events refuse electronics and appliances, and take tires only on specific dates.
Where can I drop off brush and yard waste in Traverse City?
The Grand Traverse County Brush Drop-Off Site at 2471 N. Keystone Road takes brush Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. It refuses concrete, sod, and dirt. Inside city limits, GFL handles curbside yard waste pickup through its city line at (231) 943-8088.
Where can I scrap metal and old electronics in Traverse City?
PADNOS Traverse City Recycling Center, near M-37 and Blair Townhall Road, buys aluminum, copper, brass, and steel. It pays by the pound for circuit boards, computers, phones, cables, and hard drives, and takes printers, keyboards, tablets, and gaming systems at no value. Hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
What are the hours at the Traverse City transfer station?
The GFL Traverse City Transfer Station & MRF is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. It closes on Sundays. For other self-haul options in the region, see the transfer station list.
Recycling tips for Traverse City
•The city no longer picks up trash or bulk items during Spring Clean-up, so book bulky pickup with GFL at (231) 943-8088.
•Medical sharps in rigid containers go to 2650 Lafrainer Rd., not to the hazardous waste events.
•The county asks for a $25 donation per car at hazardous waste events because the average disposal cost runs $91 per car and the program gets no general fund tax money.
•PADNOS closes July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, so plan scrap runs around those dates.
•Arrive at a hazardous waste event without an appointment and you will be turned away.
Recycling centers near Traverse City
The closest recycling centers in neighboring areas: