FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: What is the difference between solid waste management today and that of the past?
A: In the past, solid waste was stored primarily at a local dump. These dumps were largely unregulated and contained virtually no environmental safeguards. Hazardous chemicals found in household trash would often leak into the local groundwater supply. In addition, the entire industry was considered to be primarily comprised of unskilled labor.
Today the process is much different. Most of the local municipal dumps have been replaced by fewer and larger regional landfills. These landfills are highly regulated at the state and federal levels. They have many environmental safeguards incorporated into their design, such as protective liners, that prevent any harmful materials from entering the groundwater supply. The people employed in waste industries now come from diverse professional backgrounds: from the scientists and engineers who design and control the landfills, to the entrepreneurs who oversee their operations.
Q: How many landfills are there in Michigan?
A: There are 53 regional solid waste landfills in the State of Michigan.
Q: How much trash do Michigan residents generate each year?
A: In Michigan, 50 million cubic yards of solid waste are produced annually. The average U.S. resident generates roughly 4.5 pounds of waste per day. For an average household, that adds up to approximately 1.5 tons of waste each year. (Source: US EPA.)
Q: What types of waste are stored in Michigan’s regional Type II waste landfills?
A: Michigan’s landfills are designed to store our non-hazardous solid waste, like the kind that comes from our homes and offices. Hazardous and industrial waste is stored in separate facilities, designed specifically for these types of materials.
Q: How much waste is landfilled each year?
A: Each year, more than 57 million cubic yards of solid waste is added to landfills in Michigan. In 2003, approximately 11.5 million cubic yards, or 20 percent of all solid waste, was imported from other states and Canada.
Q: Is our state running out of landfill disposal capacity?
A: In Michigan, landfill operators have been granted construction permits that ensure adequate capacity for the next decade. Additional property that county solid waste plans have designated as future landfill space is enough to provide our state with several decades of additional capacity.
Q: What regulations govern the disposition of solid waste in Michigan?
A: In 1979, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted strict landfill standards which now govern industry operations. These regulations have virtually transformed the industry from a system of worn-out municipal dumps to a system of high-tech, environmentally sound waste collection and management mechanisms and procedures.
The state’s legal and regulatory environment works to complement these federal requirements. MWIA and its members work closely with state officials to provide accurate, timely information about industry practices and ensure appropriate levels of regulation on an ongoing basis.
Q: Are there any kinds of solid waste that are banned from Michigan landfills?
A: Untreated medical waste, hazardous waste, liquids, yard waste, car batteries, beverage containers, whole tires and motor oil cannot be disposed of in a Michigan landfill according to state law. In-house screening and waste approval programs implemented by the landfill operators and regular inspections conducted by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality work to ensure compliance with this ban.
Q: Why is waste moved in or out of other states or Canada?
A: Different state regulations, varying landfill capacities, and financial considerations often encourage the import and export of different types of solid waste. This practice has been ongoing for decades with no negative environmental or safety impact.
Q: How much waste does Michigan import?
A: Michigan imports approximately 11.5 million cubic yards, or 20 percent of its solid waste, from other states and Canada. There are only a handful of landfills in Michigan that accept Canadian waste, with the primary three being: Pine Tree Acres in Macomb County, Carleton Farms in Western Wayne County, and the Richfield landfill in Genesee County.
Q: Does Michigan export any waste?
A: The state sends about 106 million pounds (53 thousand tons) of hazardous waste to facilities in Canada. Michigan also ships significant quantities of hazardous, low-level radioactive and medical waste to other states and relies on Canada to process all types of electronic scrap and a large percentage of recycled paper collected in Michigan is sent to Canada for processing and re-use. Solid waste from Michigan is sent to Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin from areas in Michigan that border those states.
This raises an important point. If Michigan were to close its borders to Canada’s municipal waste, Canada might retaliate by closing its borders to hazardous waste and, electronic scrap from Michigan. Michigan hazardous waste generators would be forced to find more expensive alternatives, an unintended and undesired consequence during this tough economic period.
