Senator Buzz Thomas' Friday Report
Friday, November 5, 2004

This week a federal judge ruled that the solid waste package signed into law earlier this year is constitutional. Senator Thomas' Public Act 35 of 2004 was an integral component of the 11-bill package signed into law by Governor Granholm in late March. The legislation will help reduce the amount of out-of-state and out-of-country trash going into Michigan landfills by requiring imported waste to meet the same criteria for disposal as waste generated in Michigan by banning such items as beverage containers, whole tires, used oil and yard waste from landfill disposal. The legislation was to take effect October 1, but its implementation was delayed due to an injunction filed by several waste industry partners. The action by the federal judge now clears the way for the new laws to be enforced barring any emergency appeal of the decision.