North Kent Recycling and Waste Center

A no-nonsense local recycling drop-off where Rockford residents take their sorted recyclables and bulky recycling items. Small enough that regulars recognize the layout but big enough to handle pickup loads and carloads during cleanup season. People from surrounding neighborhoods stop by for bottle returns (Michigan's deposit laws affect what gets separated) and for common recyclables like cardboard, paper, metal, and plastics.

Pull up to an entrance booth and be prepared to stop briefly; many centers have a scale near the entrance so vehicles may be weighed in and out. The recycling bins and roll-off containers are usually clustered to the right past the booth, with signs marking cardboard, mixed containers, and scrap metal. Expect a mostly gravel or paved yard with lanes for trucks and cars, and a few larger bays or compactors for bulk drop-offs. Weekends and spring cleanup days get noticeably busier, so there can be a short line to get into the site.