How We Are Clamping Down on International Waste (Rep. Paul Gillmor)

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation which I was proud to cosponsor with Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) to regulate the transportation and disposal of international waste. The vote was encouraging but not surprising because this is a commonsense issue in Congress. The process of planning, developing and maintaining landfills is often contentious and expensive. And our communities should not be forced to sit back and watch as their resources are overwhelmed with trash from outside the United States.

International waste has become a huge burden for my neighbors to the north in the State of Michigan with more than 415 truckloads of Canadian trash crossing the border, largely unchecked, every day. And while much of the foreign waste coming into the United States ultimately ends up in Michigan, this is an issue for all Americans. Our landfills are an irrecoverable resource and I believe there will come a day when Michigan’s landfills hang a sign outside that reads, “landfill full, continue south to Ohio.