MMP Process Sample Timeline

By Kerrin O'Brien | August 2, 2024 |

With all 83 counties filing their Notices of Intent (NOI) or an extension, the 36-month timeline to deliver approved county materials management plans (MMP) to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has officially begun. And a whopping forty-nine counties will be cooperating to deliver multi-county plans, surpassing all expectations of regional coordination.

EGLE has provided a great deal of guidance about the process as laid out in statute on their website. We expect the State to deliver a template that should make the development of the plan itself fairly straightforward in the coming months. What's likely to be more challenging for counties is acquiring the data and information needed to facilitate productive meetings with the Materials Management Planning Committees (MMPC) and other key stakeholders.

So we've taken a look at the timeline and are working to provide some additional support and guidance for counties and other stakeholders in the process. Here's what's coming:

%
of Michigan counties are collaborating on MMP
  1. Counties have 180 days from the NOI date to accomplish the tasks listed below.
    1. Appoint the Designated Planning Agency (DPA)
    2. Appoint the Materials Management Planning Committee (MMPC)
    3. Draft Work Program
        1. The DPA will have to draft a work program that will describe the activities undertaken to develop and implement the MMP and associated costs to be covered by the county and MMP funds. EGLE will soon provide guidance on work plan development
    4. MMPC to approve Work Program
    5. EGLE to approve Work Program
  2. If the NOI was filed on July 6, 2024, then January 2, 2025 begins the approximate 18 month timeframe for drafting the county MMP. This timeframe can grow based on how early the MMPC is established. Check your specific dates using the "MMP Tools: Approval Process Worksheet."
  3. See below for a sample schedule for discussion of specific planning topics up for discussion/decision by goal. As you can see from the sample schedule, the timeline and agenda will require a well-facilitated process with facilitators providing information to support discussion on key points identified before each meeting. Keep in mind that these meetings are required to be open to the public and will require appropriate notice. The EGLE Quick Planning Guide can help guide your process with additional, appropriate details.
1

Explore Current Context

  • County demographics
  • Current facility inventory & map
  • Hauling services & infrastructure
  • Programming
    • MegaData by county
    • Request ReTRAC data on facilities
2
where you at
3

Identify Gaps

  • Review
    • Local, regional, and state reports such as 2021 Gap Analysis
    • Markets
      • Local
      • Regional
      • MMCE report, if applicable
4

Explore Vision

5

Explore Goals, Best Practices,  Benchmark Standards

  • Recycling
    • Curbside services
    • Infrastructure
    • Typically collected material
6

Identify Goals, Best Practices, Benchmark Standards

  • Recycling
    • Drop-off services
    • Infrastructure
    • Methods of
      • Collecting
      • Managing
      • Diverting
7
  • Organics services and infrastructure
    • Curbside
    • Drop-off
    • Wood Waste
8

Explore and Identify Goals, Best Practices

  • Solid Waste Services
  • Solid Waste Infrastructure
9
  • Utilization, reuse, repair, diversion, other:
    • Commercial, institutional, venues, industrial, agricultural, construction & demolition, disaster debris, etc.
10

Explore, Identify Goals, Best Practices, Requirements

  • Education
  • Outreach
  • Other supportive programming
11
  • Partnerships
    • Now and future
  • Regional collaboration
  • Private sector service provider role
  • Local government responsibility
12

Explore and Identify Goals

  • Enforceable mechanisms
    • Agreements
    • Licensing
    • Funding
    • Flow Control
    • Contracts - role of municipalities
13
14

Implementation Strategy

  • Solidify
    • Vision
    • Timeline
    • Key mechanisms
    • Goals
15

Siting Process

  • Establish siting process
  • Local zoning vs. criteria
  • Process to authorize
  • Community approval
  • Community agreements
16

Summary

  • Funding the plan
  • Who's responsible for what part of the plan
  • Collecting and reporting data
  • Monitoring
  • Enforcement
  • Plan compliance
17

Looking Ahead to the next 5 Year Plan

18

Final Review and Approval

  1. Once the County MMP is drafted and approved by the MMPC, tasks shift to approvals by all involved. Once complete, the plan will be submitted to EGLE for final approval. The EGLE MMP Approval Process with Flowchart is a helpful tool that identifies timing, requirements, and deadlines.
  2. It's important to understand the role that municipalities, the community at-large, and committee members play in developing and approving the county plan. Their involvement and early buy-in will make for successful implementation, as many of these services will be delivered by them and for them.

The Michigan Recycling Coalition will endeavor to provide timely information, guidance, and resources for members and stakeholders on the goals and topics listed in the sample schedule above, especially leading up to and through months 4-13. It's important to note that, while the MMP process is statutorily required and, at times, rigorous, the end goal is the development of a robust and successful integrated materials management system that benefits the community and contributes to a circular economy in Michigan.

2 Comments

  1. Larry Johnson on August 6, 2024 at 2:35 pm

    I sure would like EGLE to get that funding out to the counties ASAP. We can’t move forward without funding. As a member of MRC, please help lobby for this.



    • Kerrin O'Brien on August 15, 2024 at 1:22 pm

      Thank you for your comment, Larry. We do and will continue to work with EGLE to assure that counties are supported as planning truly gets underway.