PART 115
The Path to Updating Michigan’s Solid Waste Law
BENCHMARK RECYCLING STANDARDS
DEFINITIONS AND GOALS
DISPOSAL AREAS/WASTE DIVERSION CENTERS
BILLS ARE IN THE SENATE
The eight bill package that proposes changes to Michigan Solid Waste Law, or Part 115, HB 4454-4461 have been passed by the House of Representatives and are now being considered in the Senate. The infographic to the left provides some insight as to the need for the changes proposed in the package. You can see outlines of the bills below, and watch
BENCHMARK RECYCLING STANDARDS
MISC., INCINERATORS, ENFORCEMENT
FUNDS, GRANTS, BENEFICIAL BYPRODUCTS
MRC Executive Director Kerrin O'Brien’s testimony to the committee on the previous bill package June 2, 2020. Read the bullets here to learn more about these bills, or click on the buttons to be taken to the actual language of that particular bill.
MATERIALS UTILIZATION FACILITIES
MATERIAL MANAGEMENT PLANS
HOW WILL THIS BE FUNDED?
Enrolled House Bill 4991 or Public Act 588, approved by the 99th Legislature in late December, 2018, created the Renew Michigan Fund and calls for the state treasurer to deposit $69 million into the fund annually. $9 million of the Renew Michigan Fund will be allocated on an annual basis to regulatory oversight of the materials management industry. $15 million of the Renew Funds will be allocated on an annual ongoing basis to support recycling infrastructure and market development, as well as county planning activities when proposed changes to Part 115, Michigan solid waste laws are finally adopted.
Funding for solid waste would be allocated to support EGLE oversight of the growing industry. Funding for recycling would be available to:
Support county/regional planning and support local implementation of materials management initiatives
Support the development of needed programs and infrastructure
Attract public and private sector investment in all aspects of material collection, processing, and utilization in the manufacturing of new products.
Support local and statewide education
CHANGES TO PART 115, MICHIGAN SOLID WASTE LAW
Updating Michigan solid waste policy and laws is an important part of the equation. Current laws focus on the availability of disposal capacity - we've chosen to invest in landfills and we attract trash. Stakeholders have worked together for years to identify a set of recommendations to guide the rewriting of Part 115. Those recommendations are what the House is currently considering.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO PART 115 INTEND TO:
- Provide a policy framework supporting investment in productive materials management as an economic driver
- Update and broaden the county planning process to encourage sustainable materials management
- Ensure adequate local capacity for managing materials
- Prioritize local control of facility siting and regulation of landfill development
- Require adequate financial assurance for all permitted facilities, including landfills
- Allow for the development of new recycling technologies and facilities
- Establish benchmark standards to ensure access to recycling opportunities across the state
- Specify local funding mechanisms that can be used to support materials management
- Preserve the ability to flow material to publicly-managed facilities
- Eliminate import/export authorizations for disposal
- Support business commitments to a circular economy
Printable bill summaries
LEARN MORE!
Watch MRC Executive Director Kerrin O'Brien give testimony to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation, or watch the MRC Town Hall - a conversation with Kerrin and Michigan Environmental Council Policy Director Sean Hammond, where members submitted questions about the upcoming legislation.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
CLICK ON THE TITLES BELOW
GRC & SWSAP
The Governor's Recycling Council (GRC) and the Solid Waste and Sustainability Advisory Panel (SWSAP) recommendations were used to inform the Legislative Service Bureau's development of a bill that represents landmark policy changes in Michigan. The Michigan Recycling Coalition and its members are committed to ensuring that any resulting legislation makes organic and inorganic recycling or the productive use of waste materials a priority for the state of Michigan.