When picking up bottled water at the high school, residents are encouraged to take home 33-gallon, clear plastic bags to collect the empty bottles in.

Empty bottles should be returned to the high school during water distribution hours.

Caps can be left on the bottles.

Bottles can also be crushed but don’t need to be to be recycled.

Only water bottles can be recycled at the high school.

“We’re pleased to offer this recycling option to Benton Harbor families while we work with the community to provide safe drinking water,” said Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) director. “Recycling gives new life to materials that would otherwise fill up landfills. It also sustains good Michigan jobs in industries that support the recovery of recyclable plastic and the manufacture of new goods from old water bottles.”

Residents receiving deliveries of bottled water will also be given plastic bags to recycle with.