Re: Importation of Canadian Trash into Michigan
As a concerned citizen of this country and the State of Michigan, I would like to address an issue that is very important to our population, current and future environment, as well as homeland security. In Michigan, the current practice of trash importation from Canada is too liberal, and some important changes need to be made to ensure our health, a safe environment, and protected borders.
According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, about 180 trash trucks cross over the US/Canadian border into Michigan on a daily basis (Senator Debbie Stabenow). The Canadian waste is taking up more and more of the green space in our state. All the additional trash is having a very negative effect on our environment, as well as putting our residents’ health at risk (Stabenow). In 2002, more than 57% of the waste in Michigan came from Canada, reducing our own space needed for landfills. Due to the volume of trash imported, the State of Michigan is the third largest importer of trash in the U.S. (Stabenow).
In addition, with the incoming of refuse, the traffic on our highways intensifies, resulting in increased damage to our roads and bridges. As most likely you are aware, every spring the effects of this increase in traffic can be felt, as the state of Michigan spends millions of dollars on continuous road repairs.
Last, but not least, we have to worry about our border protection and homeland security. We should have the ability to screen every vehicle that enters into our country, and therefore, our state. Under the current conditions, we do not have the necessary equipment to thoroughly inspect these trash trucks. Senator Debbie Stabenow testified before the House Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials that some trash trucks contained “radioactive materials, most likely medical waste,” as well as other objectionable items like illegal drugs and other hazardous materials. Also, the fact that the trucks could be used as means for a terrorist attack should awaken officials to the urgency of this matter. The Senate subcommittee headed by Senators Carl Levin and Norm Coleman reports that “Canadian trash trucks entering the U.S. pose a unique security risk and are inherently difficult to screen, given the unknown origin of the trash and the dense nature of the cargo. Even with an x-ray, […] it is impossible to see the contents of a container of trash”.
As a result of all the implications mentioned, I feel action has to be taken sooner rather than later. I am starting with this letter because, as a person that has the same concerns regarding this issue as I do, I believe you can have an
impact on the process by which these proposed changes can become reality. I am trying to join efforts with people and organizations that fight and lobby for this cause, for instance elected representatives and other environmental groups that are trying to get the current regulations changed. Until a more permanent solution can be implemented, we should try to change some procedures and practices that are currently in place.
One possibility is to increase the rate charged for the Canadian trash. Even though we, as a state, function under the current inter-state and international commerce laws, we have the ability to charge more than the current rate of 21 cents per ton (Dems: Republican Plan Keeps Trash Coming into Michigan). By increasing this rate, the Canadian officials may choose to look elsewhere to send their trash. However, if Canadian officials choose to pay the higher rate, Michigan communities will have more capital to invest in environmental and recycling projects.
Another tool we can use is to impose additional border inspection fees that would help recover some of the expenses associated with keeping our borders safe. We need to invest in newer and improved equipment for screening the trash trucks, and hire additional border patrol officers and provide them with continuous training concerning the dangers of trash importation.
I believe that these objectives are not impossible to achieve. On the contrary, the changes mentioned above could easily be implemented. Please consider the fact that just putting this issue aside will only aggravate the situation and delay a beneficial final resolution. As the current practices of trash importation pose undue health risks for us as well as our future generations, we need to make sure now, that they will have a clean and secure place to live, as well as no fears of any threat of a terrorist attack due to an unsecured border. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
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