Solid Waste Advisory Committee

Photo by ZeroWasteAmerica.com

By Patty O'Donnell

What is solid waste?  There are many names such as garbage or trash, but in the State of Michigan where solid waste is regulated it has its own definition.  "Solid waste" means garbage, rubbish, ashes, incinerator ash, incinerator residue, street cleanings, municipal and industrial sludges, solid commercial and solid industrial waste, and animal waste other than organic waste generated in the production of livestock or poultry.   "Garbage" means rejected food wastes including waste accumulation of animal, fruit, or vegetable matter used or intended for food or that attends the preparation, use, cooking, dealing in, or storing of meat, fish, fowl, fruit, or vegetable matter.

For the federal government, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses the definition  as Municipal Solid Waste otherwise known as trash or garbage.  They state that Municipal Solid Waste consists of everyday items such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, and batteries. Not included are materials that also may be disposed in landfills but are not generally considered MSW, such as construction and demolition debris, municipal wastewater treatment sludges, and non-hazardous industrial wastes.

In 2005 in the United States, 245.7 million tons of municipal solid waste was disposed of, for an average of 4.54 pounds per person per day.  Out of the pounds discarded per person, 2.46 pounds were sent to a landfill after recycling.  The landfill in Leelanau County accepted 354,139 cubic yards of solid waste  and the landfill in Manistee took in 482,197 cubic yards of solid waste in 2005.  These are regional landfills and the solid waste comes from many locations which includes individual haulers and trucks from transfer stations.

Photo by ZeroWasteAmerica.com

Bringing Local Governments Together

Two years ago, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments' (NWMCOG) staff member, Patty O'Donnell hosted two regional solid waste forums for the Council of Governments' ten county region. The region includes the following counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford. The purpose of the forums was to convene representatives from each county to discuss regional solid waste and recycling issues, identify commonalities, and explore strategies to address regional priorities. The forums were well attended with representation from solid waste and recycling staff, planning staff, solid waste and recycling committee members, and elected and appointed officials from member counties. Discussion topics included the use of millages, surcharges, and tipping fees to fund recycling programs; recycling access; the "shortage" of recycling resource recovery facilities, potential financial incentives; regional solutions; state legislation; and solid waste planning requirements.

Photo by ZeroWasteAmerica.com

We're all in the Same Boat Cruising the "Waste Stream"

Much of the discussion was focused on the need to identify commonalities among communities in the region and the further need to develop a way to implement strategies to address common challenges and opportunities. Given the regional nature of many solid waste and recycling issues and the lack of a formal structure to explore joint strategies and recommend actions that local units of government might want to pursue, a regional solid waste advisory committee was created by the NWMCOG Board of Directors. This Committee is comprised of appointed representatives from NWMCOG member communities and supported by NWMCOG staff.

Everyone has agreed that the region needs to develop regional strategies and solutions to address our shared needs and concerns regarding solid waste and recycling needs. This intergovernmental committee is changing things for the better by working under these goals

• To provide a forum for regional networking and common needs identification and a framework for joint program implementation.
• To respond to and advocate for legislation that meets the needs of the communities in northwest lower Michigan.
• To research solid waste and recycling "best practices" and the potential development of regional programs. Make recommendations to the NWMCOG Board about potential strategies and programs.
• To cooperatively develop solid waste plans - both inter-county and regional plans - that serve the public good.
• To reach out to elected officials to listen, inform, and educate them about solid waste and recycling issues and opportunities.

Past and current projects and discussions include trash burning issues; state legislation; state Solid Waste Plan requirements; disaster debris planning; tracking software; recycling costs; need for a regional materials recovery facility; contracting services; regional solid waste authorities; the updating of the Michigan Solid Waste Policy; construction and debris waste; regional recycling promotion; and local government recycling programs.

For more information, please feel to contact Patty O'Donnell, Regional Planner, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, 231-929-5039 or via email at podonnel@nwm.cog.mi.us.