Protect Michigan’s Yard Debris Landfill Ban
Michigan HB 4265 and HB 4266 would seriously weaken the state’s longstanding ban on landfill disposal of segregated yard trimmings by exempting landfills with gas recovery systems. These “Grass-to-Gas” bills were passed by the MI House of Representatives 67-40, March 15th, and are now before the MI Senate Committee on Energy & Technology.
MICHIGAN RESIDENTS: CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR MICHIGAN STATE SENATORS URGING THEM TO OPPOSE HB 4265 AND HB 4266.
These bills will hurt the composting industry in Michigan and increase pollution from waste. Read more on why these bills should be rejected. Also visit the Michigan Recycling Council’s Composting Policy web site for its position statement and analysis on why these exemption bills should be defeated.
To sign on to the USCC letter to the Michigan Senate Committee on Energy & Technology, please send an email to USCC Legislative & Environmental Affairs Committee Chair, Brenda Platt at bplatt@ilsr.org.
USCC Opposes the Weakening of Yard Debris Bans
Attempts by state legislatures to repeal long-standing bans on the disposal of leaves and other yard debris in landfills returned to Georgia and Michigan last legislative session. While the Michigan attempt was turned back, Georgia will now allow yard trimmings into the 12 landfills that use landfill gas collection.
State bans on landfilling yard debris
We fully expect these fights to continue in the future. To fight these repeals, we are taking a two-pronged approach. First and foremost we work with groups within the affected states to lobby the legislatures and rally their supporters, because each state’s needs are unique and the issues and strategies are different. At the same time we are raising national awareness on these issues and why they are shortsighted and misguided.
If you see similar issues arise in other states, please alert our Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee Chair, Brenda Platt, at bplatt@ilsr.org, or 202-898-1610 x 230. Please support our work to fight these landfill ban repeals! These battles cost money, and some of these landfill ban opponents have deep pockets. We hope you will take the opportunity to contribute to the Save the Yard Debris Ban Fund by using one of the buttons at the bottom of this page (which lets you use Paypal or a credit card) or by calling us at 631-737-4931.
New Herbicide from DuPont could contaminate yard-debris compost
We have issued a “Composter Alert” about the new herbicide, Imprelis, from DuPont. It has been registered in every state except California and New York for use on lawns and turf for control of broadleaf weeds. We have contacted the EPA to request the Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division initiate a special review of the registration. Download the Alert and News Release for more information. Imprelis (aminocyclopyrachlor) is but the latest in an emerging class of herbicides that includes aminopyralid, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, picloram, and triclopyr known as pyridine carboxylic acids. North Carolina State University has an excellent factsheet on herbicide carryover, available here.
