WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Northville residents packed a town hall to discuss a proposed landfill in neighboring Salem Township.
On Monday (Dec. 9), the landfill, located just north of the current Arbor Hills landfill, may be outside their jurisdiction, but concerned residents say it will impact them regardless.
“This is a once in a generational opportunity to do the right thing,” said City of Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull, who went on to say, “We have some of the purest water in all of southeastern Michigan going all the way into Northville, the rouge and Detroit river into the Great Lakes, the largest body of fresh water in the world, we don’t really need a landfill right next to it.”
Residents have long complained of odors coming from the Arbor Hills Landfall, heavy traffic, and road damage.
The landfill has even been the subject of lawsuits.
“It’s been on our border for decades, it has caused a lot of environmental impact, it’s a lot of hardships for the community,” said Dave Drinan of the activist group The Conservancy Initiative.
Arbor Hills is expected to close after reaching its capacity within the next five years.
Residents were relieved but angered to learn of this new proposed landfill, which they say isn’t needed.
According to the Conservancy Initiative, 90% of the trash going into the landfill comes from outside the county, some from Canada even.
Drinan says the only way the project could be stopped is if the Washtenaw County Group, MMP, or Material Management Planning decides not to approve it.
The process could take a few years, and they’re hopeful that MMP will hear their concerns.
Arbor Hills is operated by Green For Life Environmental. Representatives for the company were not in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
We reached out to them for comment but have not yet heard back.