Governor Snyder continues to lead efforts to update Michigan solid waste policy and provide funding for initiatives to triple Michigan鈥檚 recycling rate.
To underscore and further support those efforts, the 36th Annual Michigan Recycling Coalition and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality State of Recycling聽conferences聽kick off May 15 in Kalamazoo.
To discuss key legislative developments in the industry and how they would bolster extant recycling initiatives,聽Michigan Recycling Coalition聽executive director Kerrin O鈥橞rien joins聽Kirk Heinze聽on聽MSU Today.
鈥淩ight now we recycle about 15 percent of our municipal commercial and residential solid waste stream,鈥� O鈥橞rien says.聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e the lowest in the Midwest in our recycling rate. So the governor and our Michigan Recycling Coalition members have been working over the past few years to figure out how we increase that recycling rate because it really does have benefits for both Michigan鈥檚 economy and environment. And we want to reap those benefits.鈥�
O鈥橞rien updates Heinze on recycling-related legislation recently introduced in the Michigan Senate.聽 In addition to contaminated site remediation, state park upgrades and water quality improvement, Senate Bill 943 is aimed at tripling the state鈥檚 recycling rate.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easier to recycle now than it鈥檚 ever been,鈥� O鈥橞rien says, and a key factor has been the expansion of single-stream recycling in many areas across Michigan. 鈥淭he problem is not everyone across the state has access to programs that offer single stream. If we can provide access to those programs all across the state like we do with curbside waste pick up, then we can generate the volume of recyclable materials that actually draws businesses here to Michigan to use it.鈥�
Additional pending legislation would implement key recommendations from the Governor鈥檚 Recycling Council and Solid Waste and Sustainability Advisory Panel.聽 These recommendations include a 鈥渕uch needed update of the law that governs solid waste management in Michigan,鈥� O鈥橞rien says.聽 She believes these changes would help spur recycling initiatives already in place.
As these legislative measures unfold, O鈥橞rien emphasizes the on-going importance of educating citizens about recycling and how it works.
鈥淭he most important part of this is really providing access to all of these services across the state to residents and businesses. And until people have the means and the opportunity to recycle, we鈥檙e not really providing the services that we need to get the response we want.鈥�
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