Fact Sheet: Michigan's Solid Waste Reduction Strategy

Fact Sheet
Office of Waste Reduction Services
State of Michigan
Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources

Michigan's Solid Waste Reduction Strategy

Each day, 32,000 tons of solid waste are generated in the State of Michigan. The rate of waste generation has been continuously increasing. Approximately 80 to 85 percent of the solid waste generated in Michigan is being landfilled.

As pointedly stated by Governor James J. Blanchard, "Michigan faces a potential solid waste crisis and must act now to prevent serious damage to our quality of life. By generating excessive quantities of garbage and by landfilling the bulk of it we jeopardize our drinking water resources, consume valuable energy and land, waste potentially recoverable materials and lose the opportunity to create jobs. Unless we act, costs of solid waste disposal will increase dramatically and some areas of the state may exhaust landfill capacity.

About one-half of the State's solid waste, 16,000 tons per day, currently is generated by Michigan businesses. While many businesses have already started to reduce their wastes, many opportunities exist for additional reductions. Landfilling has been a convenient and relatively low cost method of getting rid of unwanted materials. But, convenience can no longer be justified as landfill space becomes scarce and hauling and disposal costs sky rocket. It is time for waste reduction to be a "rule of thumb" in all business operations.

Goals

In May of 1988, Michigan set an overall goal of reducing the amount of solid waste going to landfills to ten percent by the year 2005. The objective is to landfill only materials for which no other environmentally sound management alternatives exist. Fig. I shows the current portion of solid waste that is landfilled.

State reduction goals target all solid waste, municipal and commercial.

Businesses will be able to achieve even higher reduction rates because of the nature of their waste streams. Businesses generate high volumes of relatively homogeneous and easy-to-recover materials, such as high grade office papers and corrugated cardboard containers. Because businesses are generating half the State's solid waste, meaningful reductions in business waste is necessary to help the State reach its goals.

Michigan Solid Waste Policy, May 26,1988

Waste Reduction Priorities

To accomplish the State's overall goals, several changes in the way solid wastes are managed are necessary. Because of environmental concerns, some methods of waste management are more desirable than others. Source reduction, reuse, recycling and composting are the preferred methods. Figure 2 shows how these waste management options are expected to contribute to decreasing need for landfilling. In combination, the preferred methods for reducing waste are expected to be able to handle about one-half of waste generation.

Source Reduction: The best and most cost effective way to reduce waste is not to make it. The state is projecting that by reducing and eliminating waste generation, the total solid waste disposal load can be decreased 8 to 12 percent. Commercial and industrial businesses must play significant roles in achieving this objective. Fortunately, there is likely to be a payoff for actively pursuing source reduction. As waste disposal costs escalate, reduction of generated waste may yield significant savings. Disposal and raw material costs will decrease, and the workplace may become cleaner and safer. Reduction of hazardous materials can also reduce long-term liability costs. Source reduction can benefit both business and the environment.

Reuse: Production by-products, used cleaners, surplus inventories, scraps and trimmings, obsolete equipment and other unwanted castoffs from one process often are usable and needed by another process. In the past landfilling such items has often been more expedient than trying to find a secondary use. Today, it makes good sense to reuse these materials within your company, or contact a neighboring company that needs the materials or products Waste exchanges are a good way for cost conscious companies to "keep the lid" on disposal costs and fees. The state goal is for generated wastes to be reduced 4 to 6 percent through waste reuse, virtually all of which must be provided by the business community.

Recycling: As shown in Figures 1 and 2, diversion of recyclable materials from landfills needs to be doubled. The goal is to recycle 20 to 25 percent of generated wastes. Much of this change must come from recycling post-consumer wastes. However, many businesses currently do not recycle and others can recycle more. Except where contamination cannot be avoided and economically removed, there is potential for re-cycling all types and grades of paper, glass, plastics, metals, wood and rubber wastes. Most businesses will find the percentage of recyclable materials in their waste is much higher that even the State goal.

Composting: Increased composting of biodegradable wastes from residents and businesses makes economic and environmental sense. Converting a high volume waste to a usable product through an age-old natural process is an ideal way to reduce landfilling dependency. An 8 to 12 percent reduction of total waste load by composting is targeted.

In most large population centers, community composting programs are being established. Although initial focus will be on yard wastes, pilot programs are underway to determine the feasibility of composting industrial and institutional food wastes.

Policy Implementation

Implementation of the state's Solid Waste Management Policy is being accomplished as the result of a number of coordinated actions by county and local governments, businesses, individual citizens and the state. Responsibility for planning, coordination and technical support of county and community programs has been assigned to the Resource Recovery Section, Waste Management Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Assigned tasks of this office include providing technical and financial assistance for:

Businesses and individuals may obtain further information on these programs by calling (517) 373-0540.

Responsibility for supporting waste reduction programs by business and industry has been assigned to a new state organization, the Office of Waste Reduction Services, a joint effort of the Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources. Assigned tasks include:

Future research activities are to be spearheaded by a newly-formed, non-profit organization, composed of representatives from business, industry, the academic community, the general public and the state. The Michigan Industrial Waste Reduction Partnership, Inc. will identify research needs and provide administrative support.

Call the Office of Waste Reduction Services for further information.

Connecting Product Design to Waste Reduction

In addition to reducing their own wastes, manufacturers are being counted on to help consumers and commercial/industrial users to reduce waste. In a real sense, waste reduction begins with product design. Design concerns must include product reusability, recyclability, durability and repairability. A particular area of concern must be packaging.

To facilitate implementation of reuse and recycling, it will be necessary to clearly identify the materials from which many products are made. The marking of plastic bottles to indicate resin type is essential for successful recycling, for example. Whenever a manufacturer knows that there is potential for reuse or recycling, particularly consumer products, it is desirable that markings be used to show composition. Avoiding non-recyclable containers with combinations of materials, such as bi-metal cans, or foil and paper, is also important.


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Last Updated: November 10, 1995