Recycle Ann Arbor’s Drop Off Station

If you go just to recycle, you pay $ 3 at the guard house and then go in the barn where you can recycle just about everything. They have separate bins for different types of paper (e.g., glossy magazines, newspapers, etc.). If your paper isn’t separated, they have a mixed paper bin.
There are volunteers to tell you where to put things if you aren’t sure. I went in the morning and it wasn’t busy.

I live nearby and don’t have service at my house, so I bring my recycling and trash here. If you’re good about recycling (everything you can) and sort it all before you get here, you’ll pay $ 3 to get in and $ 3 for a bag of trash… not bad! I love that this place is here and accepts so much stuff (even old computers and motor oil)! Check the site for specifics, since some things do have an extra fee. And while you’re at it, check out how much can be recycled… probably more than you think! Also, it is a bit dirty out here… might I suggest some work boots and gloves? :)

Just a quick update/​addendum after a second trip: apparently compost and trash are charged but recyclable items (including styrofoam FYI) are free. So if you’re sorting garbage to take over there make sure you make the a separate bag/​pile for that stuff so you don’t get charged since it’s by cubic yard and that stuff can take up a lot of space. I didn’t realize styrofoam was accepted in the recycling but it was mixed in with my bags so I had a lot of sorting to do when I got there. Made the trip more difficult than it needed to be.

Rather than pay for trash pickup service, I take everything here myself.
With all the shredding & composting, and recycling everything possible, it takes our household two months or more to fill a 30 gallon trash bag.
When the trash bag is full, I take everything to the drop-​off station.
Wear your «mud shoes.» And maybe bring your work gloves.
Pay attention to the days and hours. They change every now and then.
Stop at the little guard house to pay your $ 3 to get in. Certain items (bags of trash, appliances, tires, mattresses, propane tanks) require a fee, so declare all your items and the person will tell you the total.
There is an area for each type of recyclable item. If you know what you’re doing, it’s self serve. If you need help, there are usually a few volunteers to answer questions.
Read the signs carefully, because THEY MIGHT MAKE CHANGES IN WHAT THEY’LL TAKE.
For example, they’ll no longer accept most batteries, because most U.S.-made alkaline batteries no longer contain mercury. It feels odd throwing a battery into a trash basket after decades of saving them, and even picking them up from parking lots.
Now that they accept more types of plastic bottles, I don’t have to throw away as much plastic in the trash.
:-)