VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Wayne Disposal, one of the nation’s largest hazardous waste landfills, is looking to expand its Van Buren Township facility despite mounting community opposition and recent controversies over radioactive waste acceptance.
The facility operator has submitted an application to increase disposal from 22.5 million cubic yards to 27.6 million cubic yards through a vertical expansion.
So far, EGLE has requested additional details on the treatment proposal.
State Rep. Reggie Miller, who represents the area, said she discovered the proposed expansion through a small public notice printed in a local newspaper.
“I’m disgusted by it. It’s unacceptable that a notice about expanding a landfill that could impact public health and safety was buried on page 13 of a local newspaper. That’s not transparency at all. That’s a tactic to avoid public scrutiny,” Miller said. “When something this serious is happening in their backyard. They should be notified.”
Miller recently introduced a bill to create stricter safeguards against radioactive waste and the expansion of landfills.
“We are not a bargain bin for dumping waste here,” Miller said. “I will keep sounding the alarm here in Lansing, plain and simple, until they listen.”
The expansion request comes amid ongoing tensions over the facility’s acceptance of hazardous materials.
Last summer, Wayne Disposal prepared to receive contaminated soil and groundwater from the Manhattan Project atomic bomb development site in New York, drawing fierce opposition from local residents.
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Also, in 2023, the landfill was going to receive shipments of hazardous materials from the East Palestine train derailment. That shipment was eventually halted and sent to other facilities.
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“It’s completely ridiculous that the decision was ever made to put it here, and to expand it is crazy,” said Jeneen Rippey, a Belleville resident. “I mean, we are sitting right on top of the Huron Watershed, which feeds the Great Lakes.”
She said she would like to see more environmental data in the area become pubic and also more testing of the water and air.
“The first and most important thing we need is to understand if we are safe,” Rippey said. “There is a ball field adjacent to the dump. There are nine licensed daycares within a couple of miles of the landfill. There are eight schools in our community.”
Rippey is also pushing for more engagement from the governor.
“It’s a bipartisan issue. It’s the health and safety of our people,” she said. “It took a lot of years to get here, and it’s not going to change overnight, but we are not going to stop.”
A spokesperson with EGLE said, “At this time, no decision has been made to issue or deny the application.”
EGLE originally scheduled an informational meeting about the application for May 28.
However, EGLE confirmed it is being rescheduled. A new date has not been set.
Prior to making a final decision, EGLE will hold a hearing to allow the public to provide comments.
The facility is currently operating on an expired license from May 2022 while working through the renewal process with EGLE.
Republic Services issued a statement to Local 4.
“In November 2021, Wayne Disposal, Inc. (WDI) requested a vertical expansion to fill in a low spot in the existing landfill footprint following the closure of a runway at the neighboring airport, which previously limited area based on flight path of the runway. The site advertised and held a pre-application public meeting on Oct. 6, 2021. This vertical expansion will not increase landfill acreage or reduce green space.
WDI has requested the ability to immobilize debris, such as lead-contaminated pipe, to address a growing need for this type of treatment. The proposed treatment process is currently being reviewed by EGLE.
The requested vertical expansion will bring this section of the landfill in line with other areas and help ensure we maximize available capacity to meet demand for safe and responsible waste disposal.
We provide safe, responsible, and essential waste disposal services for industries in Michigan and throughout the region. The facility is permitted and equipped to securely manage these waste streams and operates in compliance with all regulatory requirements."
Republic Services
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