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Counties in northern Michigan want the public to weigh in on what their new materials management plans should look like.
Those plans are meant to outline how counties will dispose of or repurpose the things people throw away.
In 2022, the state legislature overhauled the state’s solid waste law. That change required all Michigan counties to come up with new materials management plans and prioritize practices like recycling and composting — part of state goals to divert materials away from landfills.
The nonprofit Networks Northwest is working with Antrim County, Charlevoix County, and the tri-county area of Manistee-Missaukee-Wexford counties to update their plans.
As part of that effort, Networks Northwest is conducting a survey about what households do with their waste and what they want their county governments to do about it.
“Then from that, we'll be able to take that information to the material management planning committees,” said Matthew Cooke, a community planner with Networks Northwest, adding that the survey would also help identify other factors, like barriers to recycling or composting.
Michigan's recycling rate has ticked up steadily in recent years, according to the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, topping 25% this spring. The state aims to reach a 30% recycling by 2029 and 45% by 2050, and to slash its food waste by 2030.
He said helping counties figure out plans for waste is about protecting the environment.
“I think that we have to have landfills, but I would rather not see additional landfills in northern Michigan,” he said. “And I think a lot of people would agree with that.”
The survey is confidential and anonymous. People who participate also have the chance to win a gift card. It will be open for the next few months, with a tentative deadline at the end of September.
