New DEQ Study Finds Trash Imports Up 35%
Environmentalists Call on Legislature to Quit Stalling Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2004

CONTACTS: Mike Garfield (734) 761-3186 James Clift (517) 487-9539 Jeff Surfus (734) 426-1984

LANSING - State environmentalists reacted sharply to a new report issued Monday by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality finds that waste imports into
Michigan have increased by 35% over the previous year.

"During the last year, virtually every politician in Michigan has said they¹re going to stop the flow of trash into the state,"said James Clift, Policy Director of the Michigan Environmental Council. "Over three dozen bills have been introduced in the Senate and House, and not one has reached the Governor¹s desk yet. It¹s time for the Legislature to stop talking trash, and start taking action."

Most of the rise in imports is due to increased volumes from Canada. Of the 62.6 million cubic yards of garbage dumped in Michigan landfills last year, 9.4 million cubic yards (15.0%) were generated in Canada, and 6.1 million (9.7%) in other U.S. states. While the import total has increased 35% over the previous year, the Canadian portion has jumped by 43%, mostly as a result of the City of Toronto¹s decision to send all of its waste to Michigan. The new report can be seen at:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135--85532--,00.html.

"Other states are moving forward as the Michigan Legislature twiddles its thumbs,"said Mike Garfield, Director of the Ecology Center and one of the coordinators of the Don¹t Trash Michigan campaign. "In the last two years, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have responded to the wave of trash exports by upping the fees they charge on all trash disposed there. Michigan is still the only state in the Great Lakes region which doesn¹t even have a solid waste surcharge."

In February 2003, thirty environmental, community, and faith-based organizations unveiled the Don¹t Trash Michigan campaign to promote common-sense solutions for the state¹s waste management problems. A package of waste import bills have passed the Senate and a House committee, and now await action by the full House. A package of pro-recycling bills are being considered by a Senate committee.

"We¹re pleased that the garbage problem received as much attention as it did
last year," said Jeff Surfus, President of NO WASTE of Michigan. "But the
new DEQ report proves that the problem is getting worse fast. We call on
House Speaker Rick Johnson to call up the waste bills for a vote. It¹s time
for the Legislature to act now."