The Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau regional
Materials Management Planning Committee invites residents, businesses, institutions, organizations, and local governments to participate in shaping the future of waste management in their communities. The three counties are collaborating to create a Materials Management Plan (MMP) and want the plan to reflect local needs and priorities.
Amendments to Michigan’s Part 115, Solid Waste Management, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act mandates the creation of Materials Management Plans, prioritizing sustainable practices like recycling and composting over traditional disposal methods. MMPs, once approved, will replace existing solid waste management plans.
The plan will define community goals for a more sustainable approach to management of waste and materials in Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau Counties. It will establish guidelines for facility locations (such as landfills, transfer stations, and composting sites), identify current and future infrastructure needs, and help counties prioritize resources for waste management.
To gather community input, the counties have launched three confidential and anonymous surveys – one for residents, one for local government officials, and one for businesses, institutions, and organizations (available online at www.gtcountymi.gov/2751/Materials-Management-Planning-MMP). Each survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Responses will guide plan updates by the tri-county Materials Management Planning Committee. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your insights.
For help or more information about the surveys, contact the counties’ consultant, Susan, at [email protected].
The Materials Management Plan Committee’s monthly meetings are open to the public.
Each of the three counties represented on the committee has a materials management
web page. The committee is staffed by Lydia Gulow, [email protected]
