Michigan governor proposes increased tipping fee

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is proposing an increased tipping fee at landfills to fund toxic site cleanups and water quality monitoring, a report by mlive.com says. Snyder proposed raising $70 million annually through a 1,200 percent increase on tipping fees Jan. 30.

Currently, the average tipping fee in Michigan is 36 cents. The governor is proposing an increase to $4.75. The proposal, named Renew Michigan, is also a way for the state to manage waste and recycling efforts, the governor says in the report.

The proposal allocates $15 million for local infrastructure grants to improve recycling, market development and education. Nine million dollars is proposed for local solid waste planning, which could be used to help remove asbestos from blighted properties. Upgrades to state park infrastructure and water quality monitoring grants would each receive $5 million under the proposal.

Forty-five million dollars will be allocated to remediation and redevelopment of toxic properties if the proposal passes. The report says the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality depleted the Clean Michigan Initiative bond funds last year.

The proposed tipping fee would match Ohio’s and go beyond Illinois and Indiana’s, which is $2 and 60 cents per ton, respectively. Wisconsin charges $13 while Pennsylvania charges $6.25. The proposal would have to be passed by the legislature before going into effect.

Mlive says past efforts to increase tipping fees have failed due to lawmakers opposing the increased cost passed onto ratepayers. Snyder’s office says the average household would see an estimated $4.75 annual increase under the proposal.