14 Teams Selected for NextCycle Michigan I2P3 & RSC Accelerator Cohorts
NextCycle Michigan has selected 14 teams to participate in its accelerator tracks focused on improving recycling supply chains (RSC) and supporting intergovernmental initiatives & public-private partnerships (I2P3). Through participation in NextCycle Michigan’s accelerator, teams will build relationships with new networks while receiving technical support, financial resources, and capacity building for their recycling, recovery, and reuse initiatives.
The I2P3 Accelerator Track focuses on public-private partnerships working to implement recycling and composting solutions that create resilient and adaptable communities. The selected teams include:
Isabella County Material Recovery Facility plans to overhaul and upgrade its existing materials recovery facility.
Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region will create a community composting pilot that will supply local farmers with compost.
Crawford County aims to implement a county-wide recycling program.
Calhoun County plans to move recycling operations to a location where it can implement baling and expand its comprehensive recycling center.
West Michigan Environmental Action Council Education Foundation will look at improving residential recycling in Muskegon County through program development, promotion, and sustainable partnerships and funding.
Dickinson Conservation District will develop plans for curbside recycling service in densely populated areas and drop-off locations in rural areas.
City of Eaton Rapids, Eaton Rapids Township, and Hamlin Township will develop plans for a new recycling center for residential recyclables as well as bulky and hard-to-recycle materials.
The RSC Accelerator Track centers around projects that establish, improve, or expand supply chains related to collection, processing, or end markets for recyclable material in Michigan. Selected teams include:
Kadeya seeks to offer the world’s first closed-loop beverage vending machine where customers receive reusable bottles of local water and return it to be sterilized and reused.
reUser plans to expand its software offerings for tracking reusable takeout containers and establish new corporate and institutional partners.
Latrenae’ Collection will work on developing its business plan and connection with investors for its luxury, upcycled handbag for high heels.
Sipzee plans to increase bottle recycling through a mobile app where recyclers match with drivers to return their cans for a portion of the deposit.
Mission, LLC’s Hero Project aims to build an e-waste system for cannabis vape pens through design, rebates, branding, communication, and sorting.
SCRAP Creative Reuse aims to grow partnerships and the capacity of its craft reuse program to service and provide education to low-income and historically underserved neighborhoods in Washtenaw County.
Perfect Circle Recycling seeks to expand its recycling capacity and improve its software to allow customers to explore their waste diversion data.
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) supports the NextCycle Michigan initiative that is focused on improving Michigan's recycling and waste recovery systems through collaboration and capacity building. The 2021 NextCycle Michigan Gap Analysis identifies opportunities where NextCycle Michigan can boost innovative solutions for material management helping to reduce greenhouse gases and further Michigan on its path to carbon neutrality by 2050. The teams selected proposed innovative ideas to address gaps and opportunities highlighted in this analysis.
Learn more about current and alumni NextCycle Michigan teams at https://nextcyclemichigan.com/teams.