Senator Basham offered the following concurrent resolution:

            Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 34.

            A concurrent resolution to express the sense of the Michigan Legislature that local and state governments should play larger roles in solid waste management decisions to protect public health and the environment and to memorialize the Congress of the United States to extend this authority to the states.

Whereas, Landfills and incinerators pose a variety of environmental risks to Michigan residents and our neighbors, from a potential to contaminate groundwater aquifers to the release of a variety of air pollutants; and

            Whereas, Certain items, such as used oil and batteries, increase significant health and safety risks if placed in disposal facilities; and

            Whereas, Banning recyclable or compostable items from our disposal facilities protects public health and the environment by prolonging the life of a landfill and minimizes the need for additional landfills, saving land resources and the other inherent risks of solid waste disposal facilities; and  

            Whereas, The reuse of recyclable materials reduces energy use and related negative impacts on our natural resources; and

            Whereas, The reuse of recyclable materials reduces the demand for virgin materials.  In some cases, the mining, collection, and processing of virgin materials can lead to degradation of our natural resources; and

            Whereas, Michigan’s recycling rates are significantly below average when compared to the region or national averages; and

            Whereas, Michigan residents have chosen to spend considerable time and resources on diverting certain waste streams from solid waste disposal facilities such as beverage containers, yard waste, used oil, and scrap tires; and

            Whereas, Efforts to encourage people to recycle are undermined when residents do not see a link between their efforts to recycle materials and the extension of the usable life of area disposal facilities; and

            Whereas, Solid waste management is most effective when done on a local level where program implementation is conducted; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the sense of this legislative body that local units of governments need to be empowered to have greater control over solid waste management decisions; that the county level is the optimal planning unit of government due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of solid waste disposal facilities; that the state of Michigan should play a larger role in ensuring that products that Michigan residents have decided to divert from solid waste disposal facilities are not allowed in our facilities from other jurisdictions; and that the state of Michigan should support local units of governments in their efforts to provide alternative disposal mechanisms for those items banned from our solid waste disposal facilities; and be it further

            Resolved, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to extend to the states more authority for the management of solid waste; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.