State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) Monday, October 31, blasted the Legislature’s stonewalling of anti-trash legislation and protecting garbage companies while harming Michigan’s land, and challenged the legislature to raise Michigan’s dumping charge by November 1.

“The people of Michigan demand we take action to stop trash imports right away,” Mr. McDowell said. “Michigan is being buried in Canadian and out-of-state trash. The Upper Peninsula alone saw a 61 percent increase in imported trash last year. The eastern end is being bombarded with Canadian trash, while the west end of the U.P. is wading in Wisconsin trash.”

Mr. McDowell urged passage of anti-trash bills that attack the economics of the trash trade by raising the dumping charge for waste companies. The state legislature was considering another proposal that would have kicked in only if the U.S. congress gave Michigan the power to ban foreign garbage, something that has never happened.

Mr. McDowell has long argued that this plan did not go far enough and continues a strategy of delay that benefits the trash industry.

The Legislature’s plan does not fight garbage from other states, like Wisconsin and Ohio, he said. As of today, neither the U.S. House nor the Senate has acted.

Mr. McDowell has renewed his challenge to the Legislature: If Congress has not approved federal anti-trash legislation by Tuesday, November 1, then the legislature must raise Michigan’s dumping charge to $7.50 per ton.

Mr. McDowell commended the work of Congressman Bart Stupak to stem Canadian and out-of-state trash, but said the state legislature should be doing more.

“Raising Michigan’s dumping charge would have a real impact on Canadian and out-of-state trash,” Mr. McDowell said. “Attacking the economics of the problem is the only way to seriously reduce the flow of trash. The deadline is here. We need action now. It’s time we got serious about stopping trash.”

Michigan took in more than 6 million tons of Canadian and out-of-state garbage in 2004, up 17 percent from 2003.