Mid-March 2025 Newsletter

Recycling Municipal Waste Would Have Major Economic Impact, Create Thousands of Jobs
Thousands of jobs could be created and hundreds of millions in economic activity could be spurred by taking large amounts of municipal solid waste landfill materials each year and instead recycling them, a study released this week reported.

According to a study funded by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, the materials sent to Michigan’s municipal solid waste landfills each year have an estimated market value of $500 million to $676 million.

These materials, if collected for recycling, could have an estimated economic impact of $609 million to $825 million per year and could create up to 4,500 jobs.

"Each year that Michigan does not make the investments in infrastructure, adopt new business practices, provide the necessary education to stakeholders, or advance and execute the public policy needed to increase the recycling rate, the state will lose at least a half billion dollars of potential feedstock for its manufacturers, farms and other end markets," the study states.

The study states that many materials currently being disposed of at landfills and incinerated could be recycled or composted in most communities without significant difficulty. About one-third of such materials could be recycled in any community that meets the recycling benchmarks outlined in statute.

Those conducting the study used estimates of how much municipal solid waste is sent to landfills in the state each year. Most landfills report the volume of materials they receive to EGLE each year.

The study also compared the composition of Michigan’s municipal solid waste in 2023 to what was found in a similar 2016 study.

It was estimated that about 8.99 million tons of municipal solid waste are generated each year in the state.

The largest form of municipal solid waste by weight is paper at 24 percent. This is followed by what was classified under "other" at 20 percent. A total of 19 percent was food waste, followed by other organics (not food) making up 18 percent.

Other items include plastics (10 percent), textiles (4 percent), metal (3 percent) and glass (2 percent).

The items being disposed of have significant value, the report states.

Plastics being disposed of had an estimated value of $259.3 million, with metal items being valued at about $183.3 million. For paper, the estimated value of what is being disposed of was $160.9 million, followed by $46.3 million for organics, $26.1 million for textiles and more than $350,000 in glass.

Between 1.5 million and 2 million tons of food waste is disposed of as municipal solid waste each year in Michigan, according to the report. If used as feedstock or compost, it would have an estimated value of $18 million to $36 million per year.

Several other key findings were also contained in the study.

It reported a statistically significant increase in unclaimed bottle deposit containers compared to 2016 levels, estimating about 1.3 billion unclaimed containers are in the municipal waste stream. This is triple that of 2016 levels.

Electronic waste has declined by more than half since 2016. The study estimated that about 30 million lithium-ion batteries are in the municipal solid waste stream.

The study estimated there are also about 29 million "vape pens" in municipal solid waste sites, which are likely one of the largest sources of lithium-ion batteries in landfills. It was stated it could be a contributing factor to a growing number of fires at facilities across the state.

"This study demonstrates the economic and environmental benefits of recycling in its various forms," the report states. "The economic opportunity is substantial and should be met with a sense of urgency. … As a general rule, prevention of waste through source reduction and reuse are beneficial to recycling and should be prioritized."

The study was conducted by the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and Grand Valley State University.

PFAS Rules Case Remanded to Court of Appeals for Further Consideration
The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday vacated a Court of Appeals order invalidating state rules setting limits on PFAS, with orders from the high court to reconsider key factors in the lawsuit.

The move was essentially a win for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which appealed the ruling that brought 3M Company v. EGLE (MSC Docket No. 166189) before the high court. But the majority, consisting of Justice Richard Bernstein, Justice Megan Cavanagh, Justice Elizabeth Welch and Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, did not dispose of the case, remanding it back to the appellate panel to parse key questions.

Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement and Justice Brian Zahra said they would have denied leave to appeal. Justice Kimberly Thomas did not participate in the case because it was considered by the court before she was elected to the bench.

The lawsuit came to the high court following a divided Court of Appeals holding that said the department failed to issue a proper regulatory impact statement as the Administrative Procedures Act requires and as a result the rules setting limits on PFAS were invalid.

Although EGLE issued a regulatory impact statement with the rules, it did not address costs related to groundwater cleanup, which the rules would affect.

Justices of the high court heard oral arguments in the matter in November 2024.

EGLE argued it was not required to estimate the costs to businesses that would occur because it lacked the necessary information to make an estimate. It also argued that the agency only needed an impact statement as it related to the proposed rule, which dealt with drinking water, and not on the groundwater cleanup that could be required because of the new rule.

The majority on the Court of Appeals disagreed, and oral arguments were heard before the high court in November 2024.

The order issued Friday remanded the case to the Court of Appeals to consider whether 3M’s challenge to the rules became moot when the EGLE promulgated an updated rule set; whether any exception to the mootness doctrine is applicable; whether 3M failed to exhaust its administrative remedies by not requesting a declaratory ruling from the agency as to the validity of the challenged rule before commencing the lawsuit; and if the administrative remedies were not properly exhausted, what effect, if any, that had on the justiciability of this lawsuit, including 3M’s standing and the court’s subject-matter jurisdiction over the claims presented.

New Polling Looks Good for Benson, Whitmer
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson leads both the potential primary and general election field by double-digit margins, according to Target Insyght polling conducted for MIRS.

As for the open U.S. Senate race, both Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pete Buttigieg are within the margin of error against Republican Mike Rogers, but Rogers is up 6 points in a matchup with U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham).

The 600-voter sample was taken March 3-6 with a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

First, in the Governor’s race, a hypothetical matchup has Benson leading U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) 42 percent to 30 percent, with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at 21 percent.

Benson is viewed favorably by 49 percent and unfavorable by 35 percent. The final 16 percent have never heard of her or have no opinion.

James is viewed favorably by 33 percent and unfavorably by 34 percent. The final 34 percent have never heard of him or have no opinion.

Duggan is viewed favorably by 42 percent and unfavorably by 16 percent. The final 42 percent have never heard of him or have no opinion.

In a hypothetical U.S. Senate race, it’s Whitmer with 42 percent to Rogers’ 41 percent. Buttigieg is at 46 percent to Rogers’ 44 percent. Rogers is at 41 percent while Stevens is at 35 percent. While Stevens doesn’t perform as well, Target Insyght pollster Ed Sarpolus noted it’s due to her name lower ID and that she’s still competitive.

Presuming he goes another round for the U.S. Senate race Rogers may need to work on favorability rating – 23 percent favorable, 46 percent unfavorable.

In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, it’s Benson at 55 percent to Lt. Gov. Garlin GILCHRIST II at 12 percent, Attorney General Dana NESSEL at 12 percent and Genesee County Sheriff Chris SWANSON at 3 percent. Other candidates or undecided are at 19 percent.

For U.S. Senate, Whitmer is up on Buttigieg, 43 percent to 27 percent, with Stevens at 4 percent. The other/undecided number is 26 percent.

In the Republican primary, it’s James at 57 percent, Senate Minority Leader Aric NESBITT (R-Lawton) at 13 percent, former Attorney General Mike COX at 5 percent and Oakland County businessman Perry JOHNSON at 1 percent. Other candidates or undecided are at 23 percent.

Sarpolus sees movement here for Nesbitt.

**REAL ID Required for U.S. Travelers beginning May 7, 2025**

As of May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers will need to present a REAL ID compliant license/ID or another acceptable form of identification to board commercial flights. Travelers who fail to produce a REAL ID or an accepted alternative may not be allowed through TSA security checkpoints.

Children under 18 are not required to provide identification when traveling within the United States.

REAL ID-compliant cards have a star marking on the upper top portion of the card. If the card does not have one of these markings, it is not REAL ID-compliant and won’t be accepted as proof of identity. A U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents, are acceptable alternatives to a REAL ID. Other acceptable forms of ID accepted at TSA Checkpoints include a U.S. passport or U.S. passport card, DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), and state-issued Enhanced Driver’s License. For a complete list of acceptable alternative forms of identification, visit TSA.gov, or for more information, visit DHS.gov.

DCD OUT AND ABOUT:

Senator Mat recently attended Rep. Mark Tisdel’s concert fundraiser in Lake Orion with Heather Rae, CEO of Common Ground.  He also was happy to partake in Rep. Brenda Carter’s Mardi Gras celebration and fundraiser with her husband Randy Carter in Pontiac.

Jake German delivered an update on legislative happenings in Lansing to the Michigan Green Industry Association (MGIA) at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi last week.  DCD is happy to represent this large group of landscapers, horticulturists, arborists, and other landscape professionals located throughout the great state of Michigan!

ARTICLES OF POLITICAL INTEREST:

DOGE Efforts to Offload Federal Buildings Creates Real Estate Redevelopment Potential 

Housing Voucher Pause Sparks Fear of "More Homelessness" in Michigan

An Alternative Path to Recruit, Train Teachers in Michigan Amid Shortage

Whitmer Needs House GOP to Fix Michigan Roads

Michigan House Republicans Pass $20 Billion Spending Plan

Marijuana News, Updates, & Articles of Interest

THE DCD MARIJUANA TEAM:  YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE!

DCD continues to exist as the premier resource helping municipalities navigate the waters of cannabis policy. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding medical or recreational cannabis policy, procedure, and more. DCD is available for presentations to municipal boards, for one-on-one meetings, and for consultations.

We are here to help you with: municipal lobbying, license application writing and assistance, business plans, state required operations manuals and compliance, facility design, corporate structure, and design and branding. 

We are experts in both medical and recreational cannabis policy and have been in the space for over ten years.  We welcome any opportunity to work with you in the future!

ARTICLES OF CANNABIS INTEREST:

Detroit Has New Marijuana Advertising Restrictions: What to Know About the Ordinance

Ohio Bill that Increases Marijuana Sales Tax May Turn Some Towards Michigan

Northern Michigan Communities May Prioritize Marijuana Tax Dollars for Water Issues

Michigan Marijuana Strain Boasts 41% THC. Skeptics Say That’s Impossible.

DCD is rebranding, and our bottom line is your bottom line. We are striving to create and foster strong relationships with clients and lawmakers, deliver results with strong ethics and class, but above all else, out-hustle and out-smart our competition every day to be the very best. We’re making chess moves while others are playing checkers. Everything we do is with you in mind, we’re doing things we’ve never done before and aggressively pursuing opportunities. The time is now. DCD has taken our firm to the next level and your involvement and investment paired with our knowledge and expertise is going to launch the great state of Michigan forward.