The Van Buren Conservation District has received a $625,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to upgrade transfer stations throughout Van Buren County.
District recycling coordinator Kalli Marshall tells us transfer stations are sites with large dumpsters and recycling bins where people can drop off waste. The grant will enable the stations to be improved for users.
“A lot of these sites are just dirt lots, so it can be a little hazardous to vehicles coming through with lots of potholes, lots of mud,” Marshall said. “So, a lot of these sites are going to be adding concrete pads for the containers. Paw Paw Township is going to be actually asphalting the entire site.”
Some sites will also add booths for attendants, and two new transfer stations will be created. They’re in the village of Decatur and Arlington Township. Those receiving improvements are in Bangor Township, Bloomingdale Township, Covert Township, Decatur Township, and Hamilton Township.
Marshall says the transfer stations do get used.
“Paw Paw Township, which is probably the busiest site, is currently seeing about 78 tons per year. So we’re hoping we can at least increase that by 50%, if not double what we’re seeing at that site collected.”
The transfer stations are all municipal-owned, and the Van Buren Conservation District is working with each community to make the improvements possible.
Marshall says it’s hoped all can be finished this summer.
