LANSING – Canada and other states flooded Michigan with more trash in 2005 than the year before, according to a state report released today, indicating that Michigan will continue to be a trash magnet as long as its dumping charge stays low and landfills are abundant.
"Our trash problem got worse, not better, because of the Republican strategy of delay and stonewalling," said Rep. Gino H. Polidori (D-Dearborn). "Republicans were more interested in protecting their friends in the trash lobby than standing up for communities in Dearborn and across Michigan. If they won't act, then we should let Michigan's citizens decide."
The Department of Environmental Quality report released today shows Michigan took in 6.2 million tons of trash from Canada and other states in 2005, an increase of more than 100,000 tons from 2004. Two states – Florida and Maryland – began sending trash to Michigan in 2005.
House Democrats are introducing legislation that would put their anti-trash plan on the November ballot. The crux of the Democrats' plan: Raise the dumping charge from 21 cents a ton – the lowest in the region – to $7.50 a ton, and ban new landfills until 2010. All last year, House Republicans stonewalled the Democratic plan and even allowed a 2004 ban on landfills to expire Dec. 31, 2005. Already, at least one landfill – Woodlands Meadows in Wayne County – is asking to expand.
"More Canadian trash means more trash trucks tearing up Wayne County roads, threatening motorists and our police and fire personnel, and jeopardizing our quality of life," Polidori said. "Our citizens are paying a steep price because of imported garbage. It's time we slammed the brakes on Canadian and out-of-state trash trucks."
The DEQ has said a high dumping charge in Pennsylvania helped slash trash imports three straight years since a $7.25-a-ton dumping charge went into effect there in 2002. The DEQ has also said Wisconsin has reduced trash imports by 17 percent since raising its dumping charge in 2002 and estimated that a plan to raise it further to $7 a ton would cut trash imports another 50 percent.
The higher dumping charge will raise an estimated $170 million that will go back to local communities for roads, police and fire protection and stronger recycling programs.
The DEQ report also shows Michigan citizens threw out 100,000 tons less trash in 2005.
Michigan continued to be the third-largest U.S. importer of trash behind Pennsylvania and Virginia. For more information, visit www.trash-o-meter.com.