Plan Would Dump Cash From Michigan Landfill Fee Into Cleanups

A sharp increase in Michigan’s dumping fees would fund cleanup of polluted water and other environmental projects under a $79 million proposal from Gov. Rick Snyder (R).

The plan would increase the state’s region-low 36 cents per ton “tipping fee” to $4.75 per ton. The low fee encouraged neighboring states and Canada to send trash to Michigan, accounting for about a quarter of the trash in the Wolverine State.

Snyder said in a Jan. 30 statement that the fee increase would provide $15 million in recycling grants and $5 million for reducing pollution in Lake Erie and the ...