About Us
MissionOur Mission is to inspire an environmentally conscious culture in Northern Michigan and beyond by educating people on the long-term value of recycling and making recycling and green choices simple and accessible to individuals and organizations across the region.
Our vision is to create a more environmentally conscious, service-minded, connected community. We strive to achieve our vision by committing to making responsible waste management the easy, convenient choice and by continually reinvesting our profit in our community and adhering to our core values: educate, inspire, give, connect, and serve.
Bay Area Recycling for Charities (BARC) was started in 2008 with one man, one truck and one revolutionary idea: Increase recycling efforts in communities through service, education, and charitable donation.
We now have 20 full-time employees, eight trucks, and dozens of trailers to help manage our local recycling efforts. Our fleet also boasts 4 semi trucks and 15 semi-trailers for larger projects. In addition to all this wonderful growth, we are proud to report that on average we give over $25,000 worth of in-kind good and services–including compostables, waste services, and fundraising event support–to other local nonprofits.
Recycle Old Electronics & Batteries with BARC The holiday season is a time for festive celebrations, cherished family moments, and giving thoughtful gifts to loved ones. However, it’s also a season of heightened consumption, with electronics topping many wish lists. According to Capital One’s consumer research, 22% of holiday gift recipients hope to receive new […] Read Full Article ⟩
Tips & Tricks For Celebrating a Green Halloween Now that October is here, it’s the perfect time to rethink how we celebrate Halloween with sustainability in mind. Halloween can often be a waste-heavy holiday, from plastic decorations to single-use costumes. But with a little creativity, we can transform our celebrations into eco-friendly events. This year, […] Read Full Article ⟩
Harvesting Sustainability This Fall Season As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, the start of fall brings with it a season of true natural beauty here in Northern Michigan. Sunday, September 22 marks the first day of fall, and it’s the perfect time to consider how we can make the most […] Read Full Article ⟩
Going Back to School with BARC As the chill days of summer draw to a close, the excitement of a new school year begins. However, preparing for the upcoming academic year often feels overwhelming, especially when faced with the daunting list of supplies required by teachers while simultaneously wanting to make eco-friendly choices. Plus, procrastination […] Read Full Article ⟩
How to Celebrate Earth Day in Northern Michigan At BARC, Earth Day is every day! While our commitment to preserving the environment runs all year, we feel a unique joy and global camaraderie every April. Our individual and collective efforts are magnified at this time, reminding us of the power we hold when we come […] Read Full Article ⟩
2023 Wrapped with BARC: A Year In Review For 16 years, BARC has continued to inspire an environmentally conscious culture in Northern Michigan and beyond. Through educating others on the long-term value of recycling and helping them make sustainable choices with simple and accessible services, we strive to make the world a greener place. In […] Read Full Article ⟩
BARC’s Holiday Sustainability Guide December is an incredible time of year, with all the magic in the air and holiday cheer. It can be easy to get caught up in the fun of it all and forget about the holiday season’s negative impact on our environment. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, more than one million […] Read Full Article ⟩
What is Make A Difference Day? National Make a Difference Day is an annual celebration focused on giving back to the community that is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in October. It is one of the country’s largest national days of community services, an opportunity to show support to local non-profit organizations, volunteer at community […] Read Full Article ⟩
