Mecosta County, MI Approves Multi-County Recycling Plan Agreement

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): The Mecosta County board of commissioners approved an Inter-Local Agreement to establish and manage a multi-county Materials Management Plan (MMP). The inter-local agreement incudes the counties of Mecosta, Isabella, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Midland, Ogemaw, and Osceola. The purpose of the agreement is to provide for the counties joint compliance with the updated Part 115 of the state policy on solid waste management, intended to bump the state’s recycling rate from the current 19% to 30% by 2029, by focusing less on landfills and more on recycling.

In 2022, a package of bills updating Michigan’s solid waste law, Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The board approved submitting a letter of intent to collaborate with Isabella County in the multi-jurisdictional recycling program to meet the new requirements during a meeting in January.

The Inter-Local Agreement provides for the formation of the multi-county MMP, including receipt and use of state funding, disbursement of unused or excess funding, accounting of all funding and expenditures, management of resources and submittal of notices to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy with respect to the MMP.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com