By Marcus Taylor
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Residents gathered at Wayne County Community College to oppose a proposed vertical expansion of the Wayne Disposal Inc. hazardous waste landfill. According to ClickOnDetroit and News Detroit, they raised concerns about health and environmental risks, with resident Tim Craiger saying, “We should be protecting our great lakes, and our residents, and it’s just not the proper place to dispose of this material.” Republic Services, which operates the landfill, defended the plan, with spokesperson Sylwia Scott stating, “The data proves the fact that we’re safe. Everything is safe.”
Citizens in Michigan are raising concerns about a proposed hazardous waste expansion and are calling on House Speaker Matt Hall to act. Bridge Michigan reported that State Rep. Reggie Miller said the bill package “will not go anywhere” since Hall “said no.” At a recent town hall, residents questioned the risks of accepting low-activity radioactive waste. Christine Matlock, an engineer with EGLE, stated that public input will be accepted until October 31 before a decision is made.
The proposed expansion would raise the landfill’s height by 225 feet. Michigan is already a major importer of hazardous waste, and the debate follows a 2024 dispute over Manhattan Project waste that was stopped through legal action. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy officials said inspections and audits will continue, but the community remains focused on the possible impact of the landfill’s growth.
