Washtenaw County prepared an update to its Solid Waste Management Plan, as required by Part 115 of the National Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (Act 451). The main purpose of the Solid Waste Management Plan Update (the Plan) is to protect public health, assure adequate disposal capacity for all waste generated within County borders, and to establish goals for waste prevention and recycling. The Plan builds on the infrastructure currently in place throughout the County, while seeking to increase waste diversion over the next decade.

The planning process spanned over two years and involved a broad base of stakeholders representing cities, townships, environmental groups, regional planning agencies, waste industries, and the general public. An overview of the planning and approval process follows:

• October 22, 1997: Fourteen member Solid Waste Planning Committee appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
• August 10, 1999: Draft Plan Update released for 90 day public comment period.
• October 19, 1999: Public Hearing held on draft Plan.
• November 9, 1999: End of public comment period.
• April 12, 2000: Plan is approved by the Solid Waste Planning Committee.
• April 14, 2000: Plan is approved by the Board of Public Works.
• May 3, 2000: Plan is approved by the Board of Commissioners.
• May 22, 2000: Plan is submitted to all local municipalities for review.
• October 20, 2000: Plan is submitted to Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for final approval.
• October 19, 2001: Plan receives final approval by the State of Michigan and is now the official Solid Waste Management Plan for the County.
• November 1, 2000: the Plan has been approved by 23 of Washtenaw's 28 communities.

Read the Plan!  The Plan may be downloaded, using Adobe Acrobat, in the following eight sections. 
 

Copies of the plan may also be purchased for $10 by emailing Jeff Krcmarik or calling (734) 222-6865.