LANSING – State Representative Bob Constan (D-Dearborn Heights) today announced that the House passed a landmark landfill moratorium that is part of the aggressive plan to crack down on Canadian and out-of-state trash. The plan limits the expansion of existing landfills and bans new ones.
"We must protect Michigan from becoming the nation's dumping ground, and limiting the amount of landfill space we have to offer is a good way to do that," Constan said. "The trucks that carry tons of trash over our borders every day tear up our roads and threaten our communities with their toxic cargo. We must fight to stop the trashing of Michigan, and this plan does just that."
The legislation bans new landfills and strictly limits the expansion of existing landfills until 2012. An existing landfill could expand only if it falls to less than three years of remaining capacity. The maximum expansion allowed would be eight years of new capacity. The state has an estimated 18 years of disposal capacity remaining. The plan now heads to the Senate.
In an effort to curb trash imports by attacking the economics of the trash trade, the House last month increased the state's dumping charge from 21 cents to $7.50 per ton.
Canadian and out-of-state trash accounts for more than 30 percent of the total waste dumped into Michigan's landfills. Canada and other states dumped 6.3 million tons of trash in our state in 2006, according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
"We cannot allow other people's trash to threaten our land, air, water and quality of life in Michigan," Constan said. "Michigan is known for its natural beauty. Our state is a beautiful place to hunt, fish, boat and enjoy the great outdoors. We must fight to ensure that our natural resources are protected for generations to come."