ESCANABA — Central Upper Peninsula residents are being asked for input on a new plan for recycling and disposal services.

The Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission, commonly known as CUPPAD, is working with Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties on their Materials Management Planning processes, and are actively seeking responses from residents to the Central Upper Peninsula Materials Management Plan Survey.

The anonymous survey can be completed in 5 to 10 minutes with responses to be incorporated into discussion of local goals and objectives for the action plans for each county and the region as a whole.

All counties in Michigan are required to update their Materials Management Plans, which set the goals for dealing with trash, recycling, and organic waste disposal and diversion. The central Upper Peninsula’s average recycling rate is currently estimated at 7%.

The survey will help the multi-county planning committee with understanding what is available and desirable in each community and help to determine the plan’s goals and objectives. Possibilities include expanding recycling access, supporting organics diversion, and increasing availability for hazardous waste, tires, and electronics collection events.

The survey may be found at surveymonkey.com/r/CUPMMP.

For more information on materials management planning, go to cuppad.org/materials-management. Any questions can be posed to CUPPAD Community Planner Ryan Carrig by email at rcarrig@cuppad.org or by phone at 906-280-5134.