© 2026 Interlochen
CLASSICAL IPR | 88.7 FM Interlochen | 94.7 FM Traverse City | 88.5 FM Mackinaw City IPR NEWS | 91.5 FM Traverse City | 90.1 FM Harbor Springs/Petoskey | 89.7 FM Manistee/Ludington
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

What happens when you recycle plastic? Not what you might think.

Plastics and other materials sit inside of a drop bin at the recycling center in Emmet County.
Plastics and other materials sit inside of a drop bin at the recycling center in Emmet County. (Photo: Ellie Katz/IPR News)

Most plastic you recycle ends up in the landfill. Some of it joins local and national supply chains to be made into new products. And some actually power a northern Michigan factory.

Today and tomorrow, we take a look at recycling in northern Michigan, with this surprising story from IPR's Vivian La.


Producer: Austin Rowlader
Editing: Steve Junker
Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Vivian La covers how climate change is impacting northern Michigan communities for IPR through a partnership with Grist.
Ed Ronco is IPR's news director and the local host of "Morning Edition."