Michigan decreased solid waste volumes in 2009

The Report of Solid Waste Landfilled in Michigan for fiscal year (FY) 2009 was released by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and showed that Michigan landfills disposed of 47,837,680 cubic yards of solid waste in FY 2009.

Waste disposed of decreased by 5,284,953 cubic yards, about 13 percent, to 34,751,326 cubic yards, and waste imported from other states and Canada also decreased this FY by 4,119,906 cubic yards, approximately 24 percent, to 13,086,354 cubic yards. Imported waste made up 27 percent of all waste disposed of in Michigan, down from 30 percent the prior year.

The largest source of waste imports into Michigan continues to be from Canada, equaling about 19 percent of all waste disposed of in Michigan landfills. In FY 2009, 9,054,371 cubic yards were received from Canada, a decrease from FY 2008 of about 16 percent.

Michigan’s $.21 per ton fee is the lowest in the Great Lakes region.

Based on the capacity used during FY 2009, the reduction of waste disposed, and additional permitted landfill capacity, it is estimated that Michigan landfills have approximately 25 years of remaining disposal capacity.