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Recycle Ann Arbor

EIN 38-2224861 · Ann Arbor, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE INNOVATIVE REUSE, RECYCLING, AND ZERO-WASTE PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$9.6 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
78
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$165,942, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $3.6 million spent. MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY (MRF): RECYCLE ANN ARBOR'S ZERO WASTE MRF PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND WASTE DIVERSION ACROSS THE REGION. THE FACILITY PROCESSES RECYCLABLES COLLECTED BY RAA AND OTHER PARTNERS, USING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES LIKE OPTICAL SORTERS, AI, AND ROBOTICS TO BOOST EFFICIENCY AND MAXIMIZE RECOVERY. RECOVERED MATERIALS ARE MARKETED FOR THEIR HIGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE, SUPPORTING BOTH SUSTAINABILITY AND LOCAL ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE MRF SHOWS HOW RECYCLING PRACTICES DIRECTLY INFLUENCE OUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE ZERO WASTE. IN 2024, THE FACILITY MET ITS PROJECTED PROCESSING LEVELS, WITH NO SORTED RECYCLABLES REJECTED BY END MARKETS. RESIDUAL WASTE REMAINED WELL BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 25-35%, AND MATERIALS WERE SOURCED FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY.
  2. $2.3 million spent. CURBSIDE RECYCLING COLLECTION: WE DELIVER WEEKLY CURBSIDE RECYCLING SERVICES TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES, AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN ANN ARBOR. SERVICE REMAINED CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE WERE AWARDED A GRANT THAT WILL HELP US TO OFFER A VIRTUAL TOUR VIDEO OF THE MRF AS WELL AS TWO MAILERS THAT WILL BE SENT TO RESIDENTS IN YPSILANTI AND ANN ARBOR IN 2025. THESE COMMUNICATIONS WILL CLARIFY WHAT MATERIALS ARE ACCEPTED ESPECIALLY ITEMS LIKE YOGURT TUBS, WHICH MANY RESIDENTS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT. THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S ZERO-WASTE GOALS AND ENCOURAGES BROAD COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN RECYCLING.
  3. $1.8 million spent. DROP-OFF STATION (DOS), RECOVERY YARD, AND TRUCKING SERVICES: THE DROP-OFF STATION PROVIDES RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT WASHTENAW COUNTY WITH A CONVENIENT WAY TO RECYCLE HARD-TO-PROCESS ITEMS - LIKE PLASTIC BAGS - THAT CAN'T BE HANDLED SAFELY OR EFFICIENTLY AT THE MRF. THE RECOVERY YARD HELPS DIVERT CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS FROM LANDFILLS, CONTRIBUTING TO LOCAL WASTE REDUCTION GOALS. MEANWHILE, OUR TRUCKING SERVICES ENSURE SMOOTH INTERNAL LOGISTICS, KEEPING MATERIALS MOVING IN AND OUT OF FACILITIES SO THEY CAN BE REUSED OR RECYCLED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.