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Storm recovery: emergency solid waste authorizations

a pile of storm debris as a result from a tornado or other storm
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Storm recovery: emergency solid waste authorizations

Normally, solid waste goes to an authorized disposal area while yard waste goes to an authorized composting facility.

However, in emergencies there are provisions for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to approve requests for emergency solid waste disposal for communities recovering from a storm in an emergency situation.

The solid waste regulations allow EGLE to approve the emergency disposal of waste material:

  • At a disposal area that is an authorized solid waste disposal area, but in a manner not specifically authorized under the county’s approved Solid Waste or Materials Management Plan.
  • In a manner that is not in accordance with the solid waste regulations.

EGLE’s approval, if granted, must:

  • Be oral or written, and, if oral, followed by written approval within 5 days.
  • Be for 90 days or less.
  • Clearly specify the type and quantity of material and the manner and location of its disposal.

Approvals are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis by EGLE’s Materials Management Division (MMD).

How to request an Emergency Solid Waste Disposal Authorization

To submit an official request seeking an emergency solid waste disposal authorization, complete the Storm Recovery Emergency Solid Waste Authorization Form.  It will automatically route to relevant EGLE staff.  It will also automatically route the information to the Michigan State Police (MSP), State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) if a state of emergency has been declared by the Governor.  Upon submitting the form, the contact(s) listed on the form will receive an e-mail from EGLE-Automated sharing the form details submitted.  

Complete a separate form for each site location needing emergency authorization. 

If a state of emergency is not declared, submit a copy of each site map for each form submitted to EGLE-MMD-SW@Michigan.gov for review.

If a state of emergency is declared, the Local Emergency Management Coordinator must submit a “Task Assignment” to the MSP, SEOC using the Michigan Critical Incident Management System (MI CIMS) to coordinate further support and be eligible for any Federal Emergency Management funding awarded to the State of Michigan for the event.  The Local Emergency Management Coordinator must attach each e-mail from EGLE-Automated and each site map submitted to EGLE to the “Task Assignment” submitted to the MSP, SEOC using Mi CIMS.

Information required for completing the Storm Debris Planning Tool

  • Emergency event and collection information

    • Natural disaster event information (location, date, etc.)
    • Site contact information
    • Operational measures to be used to prevent curbside scavenging
    • Standard hours of operation and proposed hours of operation for collection activities

  • Existing disposal areas

    • Authorized disposal area location information, including site map
    • Duration or timeframe for site use, not to exceed 90 days
    • Relief requested (change in operating hours, change in materials handled, expanded footprint for operations, waste on the ground, contrary to county plan, extended storage time, increase in waste materials handled, etc.)
    • Types of materials to be handled
    • Volume/amount of material to be handled
    • How site access will be secured to prevent illegal dumping, vandalism, etc.
    • Site staffing information

  • New disposal areas

    • Disposal area location information, including site map
    • Duration or timeframe for site use, not to exceed 90 days
    • Type of materials to be handled
    • Volume/amount of material to be handled
    • How site access will be secured to prevent illegal dumping, vandalism, etc.
    • Site staffing information
    • Property owner information, with public ownership being preferred for an expedited review
    • Distance from the site to the closest residential area
    • Distance from the site to the closest body of water
    • Distance from the site to the closest water well
    • Distance from the site to the closest environmentally sensitive area (wetland, area of environmental contamination, area with threatened or endangered species, etc.)
    • Distance from the site to an area of historic value or designated as a historic preservation area
    • Pavement conditions at the site, with paved surfaces being required for approval for accumulation of non-vegetative material
    • Details on where storm water run-off is directed
    • Details on how storm water run-off will be evaluated while the site is in operation
    • Road conditions for site access

Have more questions?

Additional details on material handling that does not require emergency authorization are found in the Storm Recovery: Managing Storm Debris Webpage.

For questions about emergency disposal authorizations, contact the MMD Solid Waste Section at 517-899-5594 or the appropriate MMD Solid Waste District Office staff.

Additional resources

For your convenience, we offer a specially formatted printable factsheet for the information on this page.

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Storm recovery resources

FAQ: Storm Recovery

Michigan Materials Management Facilities

Household Hazardous Waste

Michigan Recycling Directory

Recycled Materials Market Directory