Michigan Senate votes to ban Canadian trash

The Globe and Mail ^ | 12/1/05 | AP

[doc30]

Lansing, Mich. — State legislators on Thursday took another step toward barring Canadian trash from Michigan landfills, but the ban will not take effect unless Congress also takes action.

The state Senate voted 34-1 to approve a bill that would prohibit Canadian and other foreign waste from being dumped in Michigan, if Congress authorizes it. The legislation now heads back to the state House.

While the legislation received overwhelming approval, some Democrats criticized it.

"Since Congress is very unlikely to pass this law, the bill itself is very much symbolic," said Sen. Liz Brater, D-Ann Arbor. "It's window dressing. ... We've been waiting on Congress to act on this issue for decades."

Senators rejected attempts by Democrats to tie the measure to bills that would increase the dumping fee on trash from 21 cents per ton to $6 per ton and extend a moratorium on landfill expansions.

Brater said Michigan's dumping fee is too low, encouraging other states and Canada to bring their waste here. But Republicans are worried constituents would have to pay more if the higher fees were in place.

"Municipalities cannot afford to pay this tipping fee," said Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom, R-Norton Shores. "They've been dinged by revenue sharing (cuts), and they know they can't raise millages in their communities to do it."

The federal legislation authorizing the trash ban is pending in the U.S. House.

[cripplecreek]

"Any why would they have to accept a rock bottom rate?"


Thank your government. There's a reason it comes to Michigan. The law says that it's illegal to charge neighboring states (and apparently nations) more than the going rate. Since our rates are lowest guess who gets the trash.

[teletech]

You want to limit the amount of money that a landfill operator can make? That is not a very free market position.

LOOK! You have your view, I have mine! Lets leave it there shall we?

[YOUGOTIT]

Everyone write and tell congress to tell the Canadians to dump their own trash, since they hate us so much and say that the Americans are the ones who are causing global warming and such. Lies, Lies from the north.

[GMMAC]

I initially thought the headline was a reference to Michigan's Canadian-born 'Rat Governor Jennifer Granholm and was ready to answer that, as we already have an obvious surplus of left-wing feminists up here ...

While it's hardly an ideal situation, it's not as if Michigan was in any manner compelled to enter this 'deal' with Toronto in the first place.

Secondly, it's nice to see that Toronto isn't the only jurisdiction where politicians put in time passing legislation that's headed nowhere without approval from a higher body.

Without Congressional approval, it's more than a little reminiscent of the time Toronto Council declared their City a 'Nuclear Free Zone' - a local by-law which is doubtless all that's keeping WMD-toting terror cells in check - LOL!

[GMMAC]

Is Michigan going to now cease it's own exportation of trash?

[kanawa]

I'm confused...
"The federal legislation authorizing the trash ban is pending in the U.S. House."
Why does Michigan need federal approval to stop taking trash from Canada?

[rintense]

So why is Granholm still governor?

[oldironsides]

I wish Pennsylvania would stop New York from using Pennsylvania for dumping. I once asked a legislator when they will stop it. He answered "when they fill up all the old mines" .......................Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[joesnuffy]

And then brag about how Canada is cleaner and more environmentally responsible yadda yadda yadda...

[beaver fever]

Canada isn't cleaner than other countries. It's just bigger.

[RichInOC]

I was going to ask...is this an environmental issue or an immigration issue?

[fanfan]

Is that from your upcoming book?

[fanfan]

Without Congressional approval, it's more than a little reminiscent of the time Toronto Council declared their City a 'Nuclear Free Zone' - a local by-law which is doubtless all that's keeping WMD-toting terror cells in check - LOL!

ROFLOL!

Did anyone tell the Mooselimbs?

[fanfan]

LOL!

[patton]

yeppers.

[fanfan]

Interesting.

I had to keep reading, but I really wasn't enjoying it .
It was dark.


Is that what you intended?

[patton]

yes.

[fanfan]

It worked.

[Heartofsong83]

Bring it on!!! Garbage should be banned from other areas in such large quantities!!
Don't hand another part of Ontario, or another jurisdiction, your trash either, Toronto!!! No more Adams Mines! Dump it in your backyard!