With a recycling rate of 15 percent, Michigan residents spend over $1 billion to landfill nearly $600 million worth of materials every year. "That's a lot of money," says Michigan Recycling Coalition Executive Director Kerrin O'Brien. 

The Michigan House of Representatives has introduced five bills that would rewrite solid waste laws. If passed, the bills would aim to increase the recycling rate to 30 percent by 2025; expand residential recycling; increase state oversight of landfills, recycling and composting facilities; to develop the Michigan recycling market; and require counties to rewrite their waste management plans. 

The proposed initiatives would be paid for by the Renew Michigan Fund.

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