Solid Waste Management

Marlene Wood-Zylstra receives MRC's Recycling Professional of the Year Award.

Marlene Wood-Zylstra was the 2008 recipient of the Michigan Recycling Coalition's Recycling Professional of the Year Award. Marlene was nominated by the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments' Solid Waste Policy Committee. The Awards Banquet was held on May 14th at the Michigan Recycling Coalition's 2008 Annual Conference and Recycling Business Expo which was held at the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City. 

Marlene has developed a complete recycling program for Benzie County and has worked to achieve 100% participation of the townships in support of the program. She is a committed advocate of recycling and shares her passion with everyone she meets. Marlene has persevered in Benzie County and has been successful in her efforts of having six countywide recycling sites open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for paper and cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, clear and brown glass, tin and aluminum cans. Marlene is also working with the county recycling contractor to market recyclables locally. 

Other activities:

• Accommodating businesses with school cardboard recycling program (students profit $50 per ton)
• Pursuing a program to provide recycling services to senior citizens
• Improve communications with local governments, encourage participation and support of program, to reduce contamination levels, development of enforcement procedures
• Household Hazardous Waste Collections and Electronics Collections
• Educational Programs

Outside of Benzie County, Marlene is an active member of the NWMCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee and is promoting and networking to create and support regional recycling programs including the development and administration of a recycling program at the Michigan Energy Fair where there were 4,000 people in attendance. She has been a promoter of recycling in her home County of Manistee, especially in her township of Cleon. Marlene should be commended for her ability to overcome the many obstacles which include participation, funding, and continuous education in reaching her goals.