On the Issues
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CANADIAN WASTE Canada continues to be the largest source of waste imports to Michigan, contributing 19 percent of all waste disposed in Michigan in fiscal year 2005. Each day, hundreds of trash trucks from Toronto and other municipalities in Canada cross the border into Michigan. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality estimates that, for every four to five years of disposal of Canadian waste at the current usage volume, Michigan is losing one year of landfill capacity. The negative impacts of landfills, including noise pollution and foul odors, as well as the potential for groundwater contamination, are exacerbated by the significant increase in the use of our landfills from sources outside of Michigan. Since January 2003, when the City of Toronto announced that it was shipping all of its municipal trash to Michigan, Senator Levin has introduced or cosponsored 10 separate bills that address the trash problem. Six of the ten bills passed the full Senate, but the House failed to act on them. These legislative actions have put a tremendous amount of pressure on the Canadians to do something about the trash problem. In August 2006, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment agreed to stop shipments of Ontario's municipally-managed waste by 2010. The trash shipments from the Canadian municipalities will be reduced by 20 percent by the end of 2007, by 40 percent by the end of 2008, and will be eliminated altogether by the end of 2010. Under this agreement, 2.78 million metric tons (or 3.06 million tons) of Ontario's garbage that would have been shipped into Michigan between now and 2010 will no longer come into our state. This agreement represents the first � and so far only � successful reduction in Canadian garbage being shipped into Michigan . Already, actions are being taken in Canada in accordance with the agreement. On September 19, 2006, the City of Toronto announced its intention to purchase the Green Lane Landfill in southwestern Ontario, which recently expanded its capacity by 10 million metric tons, providing 15 years capacity for Toronto's trash. In the city's press release, Toronto Mayor David Miller explained, �Securing landfill space in Ontario is a major step forward in meeting our commitment to the people of Michigan that Toronto's municipal waste shipments to the state will indeed end in 2010.� Related Columns: Related Reports: |
Canadian Waste
Canada continues to be the largest source of waste imports to Michigan. Each day, approximately 125-150 trash trucks from Toronto and about 30 trash trucks from other municipalities in Canada cross the border into Michigan. more >
Protecting Michigan Land
Protecting Michigan land today is our responsibility for the generations to come. Areas where Senator Levin has worked hard to protect Michigan’s environment include the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and the North Country Scenic Trail. more >
Smart Growth
Co-founded by Senator Carl Levin, the bipartisan Senate Smart Growth Task Force serves as a forum for senators interested in sustainable and sensible growth. more >
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