More that 19 percent of the trash sent to Michigan landfills in 2008 came from Canada, according to the state’s annual solid waste report. Overall more than 30 percent of landfill waste was imported from out of state. Michigan’s own use of landfills decreased by 3 percent.
“The data suggests that Michigan is disposing of less waste, but it does not tell us why that is occurring,” Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester said in a statement released with the report. “At the same time, imported trash continues to utilize more and more of our landfill space and that must change.”
Last month Tom Horton, regional spokesman for Waste Management, told Michigan Messenger that the economic downturn was responsible for diminished use of landfills in Michigan.
“What most people are dealing with is reduction in level of business,” Horton said, “and there is a direct correspondence with amount of business and amount of waste production.”