A new congressional bill is aimed at preventing Canadian trash trucks from crossing the border and depositing garbage in U.S. landfills.
Michigan Democrat Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin introduced the Stop Canadian Trash Act, or S.840, on April 14. The bill, which was referred to the environmental and public works committee, would fine violators $500 for transporting foreign municipal solid waste.
Tons of waste from private companies, including from construction and industrial sources, often cross the Michigan border before it is dumped in U.S. landfills, Levin said.
A 2005 agreement with Ontario was to end municipal trash entering Michigan by 2011, which accounted for an annual 1.5 million tons of trash in Michigan landfills. Still, private companies continue the practice, he said
