My Green Michigan Teams with Portage for Eco-Friendly Waste Management

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Food Scraps Recycling Program Flyer

In an innovative step toward sustainability, the City of Portage has teamed up with My Green Michigan to introduce a Food Scraps Recycling Pilot Program. This collaborative effort aims to reduce food waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote eco-friendly practices within the community.

Addressing Food Waste in Portage

Food waste is a significant environmental challenge, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimating that nearly 30-40% of the food supply in the United States goes to waste. In Michigan alone, food scraps contribute substantially to landfill waste, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Recognizing this issue, Portage is taking actionable steps to combat waste through its pilot program.

The Food Scraps Recycling Pilot Program provides residents an accessible way to recycle their organic waste. This initiative will collect and process food scraps into nutrient-rich compost, supporting agricultural and gardening efforts across the region. By diverting food waste from landfills, the city aims to reduce its carbon footprint significantly.

How the Program Works

Starting in early 2025, Portage residents can participate in the pilot program. How the Program works:

• Sign-up: No sign-up is required, and no community centers are involved.
• Kits: No kits are being distributed at this time.
• Collection: Participants must transport their collected food waste to a designated drop-off location. From there,  collection containers will be serviced, and the material will be returned to the composting facility.

Composting Facility 

The City of Portage’s pilot program relies on the expertise of My Green Michigan, an organics collection company dedicated to sustainable waste management. Founded in 2014, My Green Michigan operates across major metro areas in Southern Lower Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Ann Arbor. The facility is located in Dimondale, M.

• The city’s compost site is not currently involved in the program and does not accept food waste for composting.
• Portage also utilizes its compost facility at 10905 Oakland Drive, which is key to the city’s broader waste management efforts. These facilities ensure that food scraps are efficiently transformed into resources that benefit local agriculture and landscaping.

Program Goals and Benefits

The City of Portage and My Green Michigan have outlined several objectives for the pilot program:

• Waste Diversion: Achieve a reduction in household food waste during the program’s initial phase.
• Community Engagement: Increase awareness of sustainable waste management practices among residents.
• Environmental Impact: Lower methane emissions and enhance soil health through composting.

Beyond environmental benefits, the program fosters economic growth by supporting local composting businesses and reducing municipal waste management costs.

Learning from Other Communities

Portage joins a growing list of nationwide cities implementing food waste recycling programs. Cities like Ann Arbor, Michigan, and San Francisco, California, have demonstrated the positive impact of similar initiatives, achieving significant reductions in landfill contributions and inspiring community-wide environmental stewardship. By learning from these success stories, Portage aims to refine its pilot program for long-term sustainability.

What’s Next?

The pilot program will run for one year, with periodic assessments to evaluate participation rates, waste reduction metrics, and community feedback. Based on these findings, the city plans to expand the initiative, potentially making it a permanent service for all residents.

Residents interested in joining the Food Scraps Recycling Pilot Program can visit the City of Portage’s official website for details and updates.