SOCRRA History

    SOCRRA is a municipal corporation founded in the early '50s. SOCRRA consists of twelve member municipalities with a total population of approximately 283,000 and covers an area of 75 square miles.

   Member cities are Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Troy.

   SOCRRA is governed by a twelve member Board of Trustees, one member representing each of the constituent municipalities. Member voting power is based on individual member municipality refuse tonnage delivered to the Authority's facilities.

   SOCRRA operates a Transfer Station in Troy (on Coolidge north of 14 Mile) and a compost site in Rochester Hills. The Troy facility receives and compacts the mixed municipal solid waste for transfer to a private landfill for disposal.

   SOCRRA also operates a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) on Coolidge north of 14 Mile that receives recyclable materials collected at curbside by the member municipalities. These recyclables are delivered to the MRF where the material is weighed and placed on the various processing conveyors for further sorting and baling for shipment to markets. The MRF is designed to process 100 tons per day in an eight hour shift, or 26,000 tons per year.

   SOCRRA has ongoing recycling education outreach programs including group tours of the Material Recovery Facility and Recycling 101 Workshops twice a year.  SOCRRA also sponsors a Recycling Jamboree which educates the public on reducing, reusing and recycling with emphasis on how to prepare recyclables for set out at curbside.

   Through SOCWA's Healthy Lawn and Garden Program, the Authority is actively involved in community outreach efforts to educate the public about practical methods for reducing yard waste, protecting water quality and using compost. Recommended practices are identified in partnership with the Oakland County MSU Extension, Wayne County MSU Extension, and the Metropolitan Detroit Landscape Association.

   With volunteer support from SOCRRA's Master Composters, SOCRRA sponsors Master Composter training, public workshops, healthy garden tours, garbage-can composting in the schools, educational programs at SOCRRA Gardens, lawn care clinics, soil nutrient testing, seminars for retailers and outreach at a wide range of community events.