Anna Lynott
Sterling Heights SOCRRA MRF Tour
Sterling Heights SOCRRA MRF Tour

Sterling Heights SOCRRA MRF Tour

On May 6, 2024, members of the Sterling Heights City Council, Sterling Heights staff, and Priority Waste visited the SOCRRA materials recovery facility (MRF). Priority Waste recently started collecting recyclables from Sterling Heights, transporting the materials to the SOCRRA MRF for processing. General Manager Eric Griffin and former General Manager Jeff McKeen led the tour, highlighting the need to reduce contamination in recycling bins and assuring participants that the materials are recycled, not landfilled. They also explained the recycling process and the extensive effort involved in collecting, hauling, and processing recyclables.

Special Collection Event in Troy - April 10, 2021

Click here for information sheet about this event.

WHEN: Saturday, April 10th , 8AM – 2PM

WHERE: Troy Aquatic Center parking lot, 3425 Civic Center Drive

WHO – with valid ID:

  • Residents of SOCRRA communities

  • Residents of Bingham Farms, City of Bloomfield Hills (not Bloomfield Twp) and Franklin Village

  • Rochester and Rochester Hills residents must present pre-paid voucher from their city for Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics

MATERIALS BEING COLLECTED –

  • Household Hazardous Waste (paint, pesticides, cleaning supplies, medicine and sharps, etc.)

  • Electronics

  • Cardboard

  • Styrofoam in clear, plastic bags (no packing peanuts)

  • DETAILS:

    • Residents must remain in vehicle and face masks are required

    • Items will only be removed from trunks, hatches or pick-up beds – no items in back seats of vehicles

    • Must be in line by 2:00 PM

    • www.socrra.org has detailed lists of HHW and Electronics items that will be accepted

Next Offsite Collection Event Scheduled for Royal Oak - Saturday, October 17th 8 am - 1 pm

SOCRRA is offering an offsite collection event for household hazardous waste, electronics, cardboard and styrofoam. This event is open to all SOCRRA residents. More information below, or download an event flyer here. 

WHEN: Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 8:00 am - 1:-00 pm.

WHERE: Royal Oak High School - enter on Lexington Blvd from Crooks. Look for signs.

WHO – with valid ID: 

  • Residents of SOCRRA communities

  • Residents of Bingham Farms, City of Bloomfield Hills (not Bloomfield Twp) and Franklin Village. 

  • Rochester and Rochester Hills residents must present pre-paid voucher from their city for dropping off Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics.

MATERIALS BEING COLLECTED:

  • Household Hazardous Waste (paint, pesticides, cleaning supplies, medicine and sharps, etc.)

  • Electronics

  • Cardboard

  • Styrofoam in clear, plastic bags (no packing peanuts).

DETAILS: 

  • Residents must remain in vehicle and face masks are required 

  • Items will only be removed from trunks, hatches or pick-up beds – no items in back seats of vehicles 

  • Please place Styrofoam in clear, plastic bags - this will make the unloading process easier and keep the line moving at a steady pace.

  • Must be in line by 1:00 PM 

  • Detailed lists of accepted items available:

Offsite Special Collection Event - Oak Park - August 25th

SOCRRA is offering an offsite collection event for household hazardous waste, electronics, cardboard and styrofoam. This event is open to all SOCRRA residents. More information below, or download an event flyer here. 

WHEN: Tuesday, August 25th, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM 

WHERE: Near Oak Park Ice Arena - 13950 Oak Park Boulevard. Look for signs.

WHO – with valid ID: 

  • Residents of SOCRRA communities

  • Residents of Bingham Farms, City of Bloomfield Hills (not Bloomfield Twp) and Franklin Village. 

  • Rochester and Rochester Hills residents must present pre-paid voucher from their city for dropping off Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics.

MATERIALS BEING COLLECTED:

  • Household Hazardous Waste (paint, pesticides, cleaning supplies, medicine and sharps, etc.)

  • Electronics

  • Cardboard

  • Styrofoam in clear, plastic bags (no packing peanuts).

DETAILS: 

  • Residents must remain in vehicle and face masks are required 

  • Items will only be removed from trunks, hatches or pick-up beds – no items in back seats of vehicles 

  • Please place Styrofoam in clear, plastic bags - this will make the unloading process easier and keep the line moving at a steady pace.

  • Must be in line by 5:00 PM 

  • Detailed lists of accepted items available:

Offsite Collection Event

SOCRRA is offering an offsite collection event for household hazardous waste, electronics, cardboard and styrofoam. This event is open to all SOCRRA residents. More information below, or download an event flyer here. 

WHEN: Tuesday, July 28th, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM 

WHERE: Troy Aquatic Center parking lot, 3425 Civic Center Drive 

WHO – with valid ID: 

  • Residents of SOCRRA communities

  • Residents of Bingham Farms, City of Bloomfield Hills and Franklin Village. 

  • Rochester and Rochester Hills residents must present pre-paid voucher from their city 

WHAT: Household Hazardous Waste (paint, pesticides, cleaning supplies, medicine and sharps, etc.), Electronics, Cardboard and Styrofoam (no packing peanuts) 

DETAILS: 

  • Residents must remain in vehicle and face masks are required 

  • Items will only be removed from trunks, hatches or pick-up beds – no items in back seats of vehicles 

    Must be in line by 5:00 PM 

  • Detailed lists of accepted items available:

SOCRRA's Recycling Drop-off Reopens with Health and Safety in Mind

After closing several months ago due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, SOCRRA is re-opening their Recycling Drop-off Center with modifications to ensure the health and safety of both staff and users of the Center. 

SOCRRA's Recycling Drop-off Center will be accessible by appointment blocks only to drop-off any acceptable material including recyclables, use of the paper shredder, household hazardous waste, and electronics recycling.  Appointments can be made via SOCRRA's website at www.socrra.org.

The Center will only be open to residents of SOCRRA's member communities (Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Pleasant Ridge, Oak Park, Royal Oak, and Troy) and also residents from Bingham Farms, City of Bloomfield Hills, Franklin, Rochester and Rochester Hills.  Residents will be required to wear a mask while visiting the Center during their scheduled appointment time and residency will be verified by attendant.

"Like everyone else, we are operating under the banner of ‘the new normal’", says Jeff McKeen, General Manager of SOCRRA and SOCWA.  "Very few things can operate the way they did before this pandemic, and SOCRRA's Drop-off Center is no exception.  The modifications to our services are necessary to ensure access to services is balanced with safety in these uncertain and challenging times."

The high volume of residents using the Center while large trash and recycling trucks and semi-trailers coming in and out of the location has been problematic for a long time.  The pandemic has provided the opportunity to reassess the operations at the Center and its inherent traffic concerns, while also considering social distancing requirements. Furthermore, the modifications to Drop-off Center services support SOCRRA’s priority to provide continuous curbside services followed by these additional services for their member communities.

SOCRRA will continue to offer alternate sites for residents to access for household hazardous waste, electronic recycling, recycling of paper, cardboard, scrap metal, and paper shredding.  These options have been well-utilized to date, and offer no lines, waiting or appointments to residents.  Please visit SOCRRA’s website for information on hours of operation, location and procedures for participation at the individual sites.

  • e-Cycle Opportunities (JVS) in Southfield or ERG in Livonia will accept electronics

  • ERG in Livonia will accept household hazardous waste.

  • GFL Environmental in Royal Oak will accept paper, cardboard, scrap metal and paper shredding

  • Plastic bags can be returned to the Target, Kroger and Kohls stores located immediately north of the Drop-off Center, in the Meijer store immediately east of the Drop-off Center and at other Target, Kroger, Kohls and Meijer stores in the area. Please visit plasticfilmrecycling.org to find retail locations in your zip code.

SOCRRA is also working to conduct at least one event each year in each of its member communities to offer convenient in town services to residents.  The first event is scheduled in City of Troy on July 28th and will be open to residents of all SOCRRA member communities.  Information about location, hours, and acceptable materials will be posted on the website.

For more information, please visit www.socrra.org, follow SOCRRA on Facebook, or call 248-288-5150.


Trash and Recycling Reminders To Protect Workers

Now more than ever please follow the trash and recycling guidelines to help keep our essential trash and recycling workers safe.

  1. BAG ALL TRASH: Please bag and securely tie all trash. When using a trash can, all trash most go into can bagged and securely closed.

  2. EMPTY ALL FOOD AND LIQUID FROM CONTAINERS: All containers should be empty.

  3. KEEP RECYCLABLES LOOSE: Place recyclables loosely in your cart or bin.

  4. WIPE/DISINFECT HANDLES AND LIDS: During this time of caution, please wipe down lids and handles of your trash and recycling containers to help prevent the spread of disease.

Alternatives for Hazardous Waste, Electronics, and Paper Shredding

Alternatives for safe disposal or recycling of household hazardous waste, electronics recycling, paper shredding, and recycling of paper, cardboard, and scrap metal are now available for SOCRRA residents that don’t want to make an appointment to use the Coolidge site. These services are free of charge for SOCRRA residents. For more information, see below or click here.

eCycle Opportunities (JVS facility): for Electronics Recycling ONLY (computers, TVs, cell phones, VCRs, video equipment, etc.)

Location: 29699 Southfield Road, Southfield – part of the JVS building 

Phone: 248-233-4477

Hours: Call for current hours

Must be resident of a SOCRRA community, Bingham Farms, the City of Bloomfield Hills or Franklin Village or bring printed paper voucher for Rochester and Rochester Hills residents -- purchase from city.

Go to warehouse door on south side of building (next to Arby’s), place electronics in bin or on the ground if they are large. Ring doorbell for assistance with heavy items only.

ERG Environmental Services: for Electronics Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Disposal (computers, cell phones, VCRs, video equipment, paint, household cleaners, medications, sharps, auto fluids, pesticides, etc.)

Location: 13040 Merriman Road, Livonia (Use visitor entrance, enter off Industrial Road)

Phone: 734-437-9650

Hours: Call for current hours

Must have ID showing residency from a SOCRRA community, Bingham Farms, the City of Bloomfield Hills or Franklin Village or printed paper voucher for Rochester and Rochester Hills residents -- purchase from city

Ring doorbell and RETURN TO YOUR CAR. Attendant with PPE will unload your items.

GFL Recycling: for Drop-off Paper Shredding and Cardboard/Paper Recycling and Scrap Metal Recycling

Location: 414 E. Hudson, Royal Oak

Phone: 248-541-4020

Hours: M – F 7AM – 4PM

Procedure: MASKS ARE REQUIRED

For Shredding – main building entrance; NOT self-service – leave papers with attendant.

For Cardboard/Paper and Scrap Metal recycling -- drive into truck entrance; please use open top dumpster to self-unload.

SOCRRA’s main function is to provide and manage the curbside collection of trash, recycling and yard waste in our 12 SOCRRA communities and we remain open and fully functional for these essential services.