Sadfah Shohatee

Professor Fowler
American Government, Honors 1000
21 March 2016
Limit Trash
Michigan is home to some of the most beautiful scenery and environments that many
animals call their safe haven. With the five great lakes contributing to our state, we also provide
some of the freshest water for many of our neighboring states, and even to Canada, our northern
neighbor. However, Michigan being so closely correlated to Canada has its downsides. Even
though we have the luxury of close access between borders and a link between us provided by
the lakes, Canada presents Michigan with an issue that seems to only further the damage here,
both environmentally and socially. This is due to the fact that Canada has negatively impacted
Michigan by taking advantage of the proximity and land space we have here and bringing over
its trash to our landfills. Many people have overlooked this issue because it effects environmental
factors mostly rather than more politically popular issues, but this problem still purposes a threat
to our state. Also, just by standing by the Ambassador Bridge, we can see how easily the access
is for Canadian trucks to transport its trash into our state. According to The New York Times, in
1991, there was an estimated 500,00 tons of garbage brought in.1 However, with Canada bringing
over an estimated 60,000 trucks currently, this number has quadrupled to 2.25 million tons of

1 Gruson, Lindsey. "Mountains of Canadian Trash Are Hauled to Dumps in U.S." The New York Times. The New York Times,
26 Feb. 1991. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/27/us/mountains-of-canadian-trash-are-hauled-to-dumpsin-us.html>.

trash annually.2 Because of this, Michigan ranks third in our-of-state trash imports.3 That gives
Michigan a total of 17% of trash belonging to Canada that occupies our land.4
This ongoing issue has led Michigan Representative John Dingell to purpose a bill called the
International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007.5 This bill amends the Solid
Waste Disposal Act of 1965, which was the first federal effort to improve waste disposal issues6,
to require Administration of EPA when considering whether or not to approve shipments of
foreign municipal solid waste with considerable weight to the opinions of the State to consider
the effect of the trash on recycling programs, landfill capacities, road deterioration, homeland
security, public health and environmental factors.7 However, due to a lack of follow-ups and
prioritization, the bill did not go far. This is because the International Solid Waste Importation
and Management Act faced its fair share of obstacles when it died out in 2007. It gained the
House approval but did not survive through the Senate. It was left without amendment after four
months of deliberation between the House and Senate.8 According to a Congressional record, on
2 Kenney, Sarah. "Policy Briefs Michigans Importation of Canadian Trash." Michigan's Importation of Canadian Trash. 20 Apr.
2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

3 Kenney, Sarah. "Policy Briefs Michigans Importation of Canadian Trash." Michigan's Importation of Canadian Trash. 20 Apr.
2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

4 Kenney, Sarah. "Policy Briefs Michigans Importation of Canadian Trash." Michigan's Importation of Canadian Trash. 20 Apr.
2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

5 "H.R.518 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of
2007." H.R.518. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. <http://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/518>.
6 "Solid Waste Management on Tribal Lands." Solid Waste Management. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Web.
22 Mar. 2016.

7 "H.R.518 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007." H.R.518. Web.
22 Mar. 2016. <http://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/518>.

8 "Actions - H.R.518 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of
2007." Actions. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

April 24, 2007, Timothy Wahlberg, one of the current members of the U.S. Representatives of
Michigan, has elaborated on this bill saying: our State government has almost no say in whether
or not Michigan should accept over 4 million tons of trash and hazardous waste from Canada
every year.9 He also mentions how laws that have been enacted previously have fallen short of
actually providing any authority to Michigan concerning this issue. One example of this is the
later bill introduced by Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow called the Stop Canadian Trash Act
in 2011 that did not progress further than the Senate committee.10 However, if the Solid Waste
Importation and Management Act were to be implemented, it would attack the major issues that
Michigan deals with regarding Canadian waste. By its proposition to allow states a substantial
amount of weight in decision-making regarding the waste being imported into our state, it would
give us a chance to eliminate the problems produced by the trash. With a step-by-step plan to
limit the trash to a reasonable amount in which Michigan residents are not going to be stuck with
the consequences of the shipments, the goal can ultimately be achieved. However, The Solid
Waste Importation and Management Act was a failure due to the lack of support it received to be
fully passed, lack of prioritization, follow-ups and action taken to pass the bill. On the other
hand, if edited and pursued with the right timing and mindset, it can ultimately become a
success.
With countless factors contributing to economic failure in major cities throughout
Michigan, many of the ways our government tries to bring up the economic opulence is linked
with negotiations and deals made with other states and countries. Since the overall price of the
process in which Canada brings its trash over to our landfills is cheaper than if they were to do it
9 April 24, 2007, 110th Congress, 1st Session, Issue: Vol. 153, No. 66 Daily Edition
10 Kenney, Sarah. "Policy Briefs Michigans Importation of Canadian Trash." Michigan's Importation of
Canadian Trash. 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

elsewhere or even in its own country, Michigan feels a great idea would be to allow Canada to
bring its waste here. For example, Michigan offers the lowest per-ton rate costs for trash11
(approximately 21 cents per ton12), out of all the other of its nearby states. This value structure
effects the decision of the state and government because it taps into economic issues that
Michigan is advantageous to take. Although there would be little gain economically to the
overall state, this idea seems cut clear and easy to manage since Canada would be the one
ultimately doing the labor. Still, even though Canadian importing trash is somewhat of an easy
profit for Michigan, the state should not allow it to continue to purpose such a detrimental effect
to our state. With humongous trucks hauling over Canadian waste, not only are we plagued with
the stench of the waste and air pollution, our roads that we use to get to-from school and work
every day are slowly deteriorating. Many of the major highways, such as I-94 and I-75, have
been home to plenty of potholes and continuous reconstruction. If we were to minimize the
amount of trash imported into our state by Canada, we could lower the cost and time needed to
repair the roads. Also, without as many trucks constantly entering and leaving our state at our
expense, it could also lead to less traffic and more accessibility for residents of the state.
Another aspect we can look at is the effect of Canadian trash and its contribution to the
liberalistic notion of the Harm Principle. The Harm Principle states that the government should
play as little to no influence into our everyday lives unless something or someone purposes a
valid threat to our health and safety. Although the idea of waste coming over into our country and
states seems like it does little damage, our personal lives are greatly affected by this. Our state
11 Kenney, Sarah. "Policy Briefs Michigans Importation of Canadian Trash." Michigan's Importation of
Canadian Trash. 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
12 STAFF, STATESIDE. "Dump a Ton of Trash in Ottawa, Pay $100 - Dump a Ton of Trash in Michigan,
Pay 21 Cents." Dump a Ton of Trash in Ottawa, Pay $100. 8 July 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

government should be able to purpose policies such as the International Solid Waste Importation
and Management Act because Canadian trash does indeed purpose threats to U.S. citizens. This
is due to the fact that waste is a tangible object that occupies our land. This means that our land is
full of harmful objects that play a huge part in affecting our atmospheres and environments.
According to an article published on Financial Post, many of the trash imported into our state is
even implemented into our sewage systems.13 This harmful trash can lead to many different
diseases and sicknesses, such as, birth defects, certain types of cancers and low birth weight.14
Also, according to Fox News, Canadian truck drivers currently only pay a fee of five dollars to
bring their trash into Michigan, which whom many trucks are not even screened for hazardous
waste.15 By granting the state power to limit the amount of waste entering our state, we can end
the unnecessary and additional pollution and sicknesses that can eventually damage us and even
risk our safety. By allowing for excess waste into our state, we further these issues and cause
additional factors to preexisting problems. The state should support the International Solid Waste
Importation and Management Act and push for it to become passed once again.
Although allowing shipments of Canadian trash into our border seems very diplomatic
and economically helpful for our relations with Canada, the risks and threats it purposes to
Michigan and its residents is not something that should be overlooked. With many complaints
from angry citizens who submit letters to our state governors, we must come to the agreement
13 Brownell, Claire. "How This Michigan Landfill Is Turning Canada's Nasty Trash into
Treasure." Financial Post How This Michigan Landfill Is Turning Canadas Nasty Trash Into treasure
Comments. Financial Post. Web. 4 July 2014.
14 Vrijheid, M. Health Effects of Residence near Hazardous Waste Landfill Sites: A Review of
Epidemiologic Literature. Environmental Health Perspectives108.Suppl 1 (2000): 101112. Print.
15 Berger, Judson. "Michigan Lawmakers: We Don't Want Your Canadian Trash | Fox News." Fox News.
FOX News Network, 21 Apr. 2011. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.

that although many of these risks are underestimated, they are still there and purpose real
dangers. Canada having to bring its trash into Michigan is an easy way for it to not have to deal
with the consequences of having waste occupy their own land. Also, the state power allowing
Canada to bring in waste without purposing plans to limit the amount of trash provides a huge
obstacle in ending the problem as a whole. In addition to this, the fact of the matter is that by
Michigan allowing Canada to bring its trash into our state has another negative factor which is
preventing recycling. Many of the trash facilities in Michigan allow any types of waste to be
included in what is incinerated. With this in mind, we can see that many valuable materials that
otherwise would be incinerated could be of use to us. Also, according to a research article
focused on the effects of living near/working with incinerators found that it could affect the
health of residents/workers by risking getting cancer, hypertension and heart diseases.16 We can
take into consideration how much waste material we could be saving if we only limited the trash
to specific material, such as only metal, wood, paper, etc. This would help Canada and Michigan
become leaders in bettering the environment. This can ultimately influence other states and
countries to do the same and create a healthier atmosphere for them as well.
Ultimately, by limiting the waste imported into our state, we can help prevent many of
the huge underlying issues that are the foundations of many other problems we must deal with. If
the state were to purpose a solution much like the International Solid Waste Importation and
Management Act, we could push for a limit on trash that is transported here to a smaller number
and also regulate the amount of trucks permitted into our state. Much like in 2011 when Senators
Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin were able to prevent more than 40,000 trucks hauling waste

16 Health Effects of Waste Incineration: A Review of Epidemiologic Studies Suh-Woan Hu , Carl M.

Shy Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association Vol. 51, Iss. 7, 2001

into our state17, this act could potentially prove as even more of a solution. This entirely could
also resolve issues between Michigan and Canadian residents whom have been affected by this
problem. By keeping the diplomatic negotiation going, but altering it in a way that could keep
our relations with Canada settled while keeping our state clean, we could possibly progress to the
more idealistic way to settle this whole dilemma.

17 "Canada Stopped from Exporting 3 Million Tons of Waste into Michigan." Canada Stopped from
Exporting 3 Million Tons of Waste into Michigan. Waste Management World, 19 Jan. 2011. Web. 22 Mar.
2016.