This interactive map helps users locate material management facilities, such as recycling centers and organics digestors, in Michigan. The map is run by the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and focuses on reducing the impacts of material choices on our natural resources, the environment, and climate by establishing convenient, inclusive access to recycling, organics management, waste reduction opportunities, and adequate disposal options.
How was the Project Started?
Staff from EGLE’s Sustainable Materials Management Unit and Solid Waste Section within the Materials Management Division (MMD) reached out to the agency’s GIS Services Unit in the Information Management Division to discuss ways to use GIS to support their team and the public.
When was the Project Started?
February 2022
When was the Project Completed, or is it Ongoing?
The map was officially published in May 2023. Most of the data streams directly from the EGLE Waste Data System, and the facilities web map is updated live when updates are made in that system, so for the most part, the project is completed. However, some data, like the Electronics Recycling Facilities layer, come from annual manual updates and require ongoing support.
What are the Results to Date?
TBD
What are the Resources Needed, including Time, Cost, Etc.?
EGLE noted that it is hard to track time/cost due to it being an internally-developed application. The GIS Services Unit’s mission is to support EGLE staff with all their map/data needs and they do not charge staff for this support. The hypothetical costs include EGLE GIS staff time (a student assistant and two full time staff members to visualize and map data), EGLE MMD program staff time (to provide expert guidance and discuss project needs with us), and State of Michigan’s Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB)’s Center for Shared Solutions (CSS)’s staff time to get data feeds from the WDS environment into our GIS environment. Resources include utilizing our existing enterprise GIS agreement with DTMB to use the paid Esri technology ArcGIS Online Web AppBuilder to host the map.
