February 22, 2005

Testifying before the Senate Natural Resources Committee today, Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester outlined a comprehensive solid waste strategy designed to improve Michigan’s recycling programs, ensure landfill capacities remain adequate, and keep Michigan clean and healthy.

“Michigan citizens pay for waste disposal in a multitude of ways, including bearing the burdens of living near landfills and coping with truck traffic and noise, and it is time for that subsidy to end,” said Director Chester. “We must work together to end the free use of Michigan as a dumping ground for out of state waste.”

The DEQ has released a series of solid waste reports that emphasize the need for a comprehensive solid waste strategy to be enacted in Michigan including reducing waste generation, diverting materials from disposal, ensuring appropriate disposal capacity, and applying safeguards to protect public health and the environment when disposal does occur.

According to Director Chester, the cornerstone of a responsible solid waste management policy for Michigan must include:

• Funding efforts to increase recycling, provide for economic
  development, and build technical capacity at the local level.

• Expanding the Bottle Bill to control litter and reduce the amount
  of recyclable material going to landfills.

• Ensuring disposal capacity for waste generated in Michigan while
  reducing excess capacity attractive to out of state waste generators.

• Doubling the amount of waste recycled in Michigan by providing
  recycling opportunities for all Michigan citizens through plans designed
  and implemented at the local level.

• Updating the original 1988 “Michigan Solid Waste Policy” to support
  these goals.

The reports, described below, are available on the DEQ website at www.michigan.gov/deqwaste (under Announcements):

Recommendations for Improving and Expanding Recycling in Michigan contains information on the state’s “capacity to handle material recovered for recycling within the state, and the ability of the state to sustain markets for products containing recycled content.”

Solid Waste Planning Report presents DEQ recommendations for (1) amending the solid waste planning and disposal area siting provisions of Part 115 and (2) methods for securing reasonable and necessary regional and statewide disposal capacity, considering the paramount public concern in the conservation of the natural resources of the state. This Planning Report was prepared based on consultation with affected parties.

Report of Solid Waste Landfilled in Michigan for FY 2004 details the amount of waste disposed of in Michigan landfills, landfill capacity, and future trends.

Green Glass Task Force Final Report is submitted by the DEQ on behalf of the Green Glass Task Force in order to make recommendations to the Legislature on recycling problems posed by green glass beverage containers.

Solid Waste Management Fund Staff Activities Report provides details of staff activities during FY 2004 in the administration of the Solid Waste Management Program.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised February 22, 2005 by Pat Watson