On the agenda: Washtenaw County Environmental Council — Data Center (Sep 22)

Washtenaw County Environmental Council
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Last update and approval: May 2024

The Washtenaw County Environmental Council acknowledges that county
buildings and operations occur on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary
lands of the Anishinaabek - Three Fires Confederacy, the Odawa (Ottawa),
Ojibwe (Chippewa), and Bode’wadmi (Potawatomi). Acknowledgement is a small
gesture, a start and not an end to acknowledging and addressing the ongoing,
current process of colonialism. We recognize the ongoing relationship and
dependence upon, and respect for, all living beings of earth, water and sky. And
we uphold the rights of living beings, nature, and natural systems to exist, persist
and flourish. We honor with deep gratitude the Native people who have
stewarded these in the past and continue to do so. And we uphold our
responsibility to care for and steward the land, the water, the air and our climate
for our community, this County, and for this and future generations.

Washtenaw County Environmental Council
September 22, 2026, MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 5:00PM - 6:30PM
Virtual Meeting
With Zoom Viewing. Link to watch:
https://washtenawcounty.zoom.us/j/87283540017?pwd=gVEEnSyqxp4FAxM4EzR4qTbEzg
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I.
Call to Order
II.
Attendance
III.
Land Acknowledgement
IV.
Approval of the Agenda
V. Approval of the Minutes of the August 25, 2026 Meeting
VI.
Public Comment/Citizen Participation: (up to 4 minutes per speaker)
a. Council Responses to Citizen Participation
b. Acknowledgement of written Citizen Participation
VII.
Presentation and Discussion: Director Jason Fee
a. County Properties and Decarbonization and Solar Updates
VIII.
Staff Reports
a. Acknowledgement of written Staff Reports and Communications
b. Staff Reports Q&A
IX.
Committee and Member Reports
a. Outreach
i. Annual Meeting
b. Tree Policy
X. Chair’s Report
a. Finance/Budget Report
b. October meeting cancelled
c. In-person public meeting, November 17, LRC
XI.
Old Business
a. MMPC Draft Goals
b. Upcoming engagement opportunities
i. RECESS Conference
XII.
New Business
XIII.
Adjourn

Next Meetings
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, Annual Meeting:
Tuesday, December 15, 2026

2026 Washtenaw County Environmental Council Calendar
The proposed Council meeting dates are third or fourth Tuesdays 5pm to 6:30pm
January 27, 2026
February 24, 2026
March 24, 2026
April 28, 2026
May 19, 2026
(Third Tuesday: Fourth Tuesday is the first evening of Eid and day after Memorial
Day)
June 23, 2026
July 28, 2026
August 25, 2026
September 22, 2026
October 27, 2026
November 17, 2026
(Third Tuesday: Fourth Tuesday is Thanksgiving week)
December 15, 2026
(Third Tuesday: Fourth Tuesday is Dec. 22)

Washtenaw County Environmental Council
August 25, 2026 MEETING DRAFT MINUTES
I.

Call to Order
•

II.

5:02

Attendance

First Name

Last Name

Officer

Seat

Anne

Brown

Mark
Michelle

Coryell
Deatrick

Andrea

Pierce

Second Vice Chair Racial Equity and
Environmental
Issues
Labor
Vice Chair
Land Use and
Preservation
Water Protection

Gay

MacGregor

Kris

Present Location (if Present)
N

N
Y

SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP

Y

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP
CITY OF ANN ARBOR

Olsson

Vehicle Emission Y
Reduction Issues
Community Groups Y

Finnegan

McCarty

Youth

Y

CITY OF YPSILANTI

Liz

Ratzloff

Public Health

Y

CITY OF DEARBORN

Alex

Bryan

Lauren

Sargent

Benjamin

VanGessel

Brian

Geiringer

Annie
Yousef

III.

Chair

Sustainable
Y
Agriculture
Sustainable Energy Y
Producers
Infrastructure
Y
Energy Reduction
Issues

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP

CITY OF YPSILANTI

Somerville

Community Groups Y
(MI LCV)
BOC Liaison
Y

Rabhi

BOC Liaison

INGHAM COUNTY

vacant

BOC Liaison

Land Acknowledgement
A. Chair Alex Bryan read the Land Acknowledgement.

IV.

ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP

Approval of the Agenda
A. No amendment

Y

CITY OF ANN ARBOR
CITY OF ANN ARBOR

CITY OF YPSILANTI

V.

Approval of the Minutes of the July 28, 2026, Meeting
A. Moved: Michelle Deatrick
B. Seconded: Liz Ratzloff
C. Motion passed unopposed

VI.

Public Comment/Citizen Participation: (up to 4 minutes per speaker)
A. Council Responses to Citizen Participation
•

None

B. Acknowledgement of written Citizen Participation
•
VII.

None

Presentation and Discussion: Director Beth Gibbons
A. Washtenaw County Resilience Network (CRN).
•

Beth Gibbons shared a presentation on background, formation, and updates of
Action Groups' work.

•

Kris Olsson provided context on the CRN as presented in the RWP.
Michelle Deatrick started the WCEC, which led to BOC declaring a Climate
Emergency, the development of RWP, and the establishment of the RO office.
She wants the priority focus to remain on climate emergency and encouraged
other WCEC members to support CRN and the RWP. Call for more interaction
between WCEC and CRN.

•

Council members inquired into composition, value proposition, and management
of the network.

•

Council members recommend engaging with Labor and including stronger
language on climate mitigation and decarbonization in the network goals.

B. Washtenaw County Wildfire Smoke and AQI
•

Beth Gibbons shared that the July 2026 air quality alert days included the most
severe AQI on record

•

WC does not have an AQ Response Plan. Sheriff’s Office and EM have
established an Action Group tasked with creating a plan.

•

Development of AQ guidance is underway and recommends expanding AQ
monitoring to include heat and IAQ response. The expected timeline is early
2027

VIII. Staff Reports
A. Acknowledgement of written Staff Reports and Communications
B. Staff Reports Q&A
IX. Committee and Member Reports
A. Outreach
•

Green Fair-Ben signed up; we need another person to help.

•

Michelle has all the materials and can hand them off to others.

•

Alex Bryan will have more details after the group meeting
B. Tree Policy
•

HRWC Tree Policies
Lauren Sargent shared info from WCCD and mentioned
NYT and article on preserving trees is more important. Future
ecology is unknown. Currently, consider species adapted to warmer
climate. Replanting on building development is not enough
Alex Bryan- asked what support is needed from the WCEC or from
individuals.
Ben VanGessel wants to hear from other county operations about
trees and competing priorities, especially WCRC, WCWRC and
WCPRC.

X. Chair’s Report
A. Finance/Budget Report
•

No updates

•

Support for registering to attend RECESS conference

B. October meeting attendance
•

Quorum needed for the meeting, especially if there are presenters. Ben,
Brian, Michelle, Lauren, Andrea, and Yousef cannot make it in person.

C. In-person public meeting, November 17, LRC

•

Moving forward with the in-person meeting

D. Upcoming Meeting Topics
•

September – Director Jason Fee - County Operations
Electrify/Decarbonization Efforts

•

October - Unknown

•

November - In-Person, Annual Meeting
Alex-RO to share annual report

E. In-person meeting timing survey
•

Quarterly – meeting at 6pm

XI Old Business
A. Tree and Woodland Protection Policies
B. MMPC Draft Goals
A. Upcoming engagement opportunities
1. Green Fair- Volunteers needed
2. RECESS Conference- 2 spaces available
3. UM Data Center Town Hall - https://record.umich.edu/articles/u-m-to-hosttown-hall/
•

Small space- limited space on campus

4. Michigan Sustainability Conference
5. Water Week- Andrea will share flyer
XII. New Business
A. No new business
XIII. Adjourn - 6:16
A. Moved: Kris Olsson
B. Seconded: Michelle Deatrick
C. Passed unanimously
Next Meetings
Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Annual Meeting: Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Washtenaw County Environmental Council – September 22, 2026
Resiliency Office Report
Beth Gibbons, Washtenaw County Resiliency Office Director
1. Staffing/Support Status
 The WCRO is co-hosting three Equity Policy Fellows from Eastern Michigan University.
Equity Policy Fellows support the Racial Equity Office and Resiliency Office to as we
deepen the commitment to these priorities through Board of Commission resolutions and
two-way education between Administration and county departments.
Ongoing Activities Supporting Departments & Administration
2. Projects Underway
• Resiliency Office-Draft Metric Report Draft Available.
• Ecorse Corridor Climate & Health Project
 Presented and collected feedback at five neighborhood meetings in Ypsilanti
Township, through social media, and during the Summer Health Day event.
Reached over 100 residents.
 Hosted a final community meeting on September 15, 2026, at
St. Matthew's Methodist Church at 1344 Borgstrom, Ypsilanti
 Survey is open for final input on design and policy recommendations:
•

Washtenaw County Climate Resilience Network
o Next Washtenaw County Resilience Network meeting – October 29 9 -11am,
Chelsea, MI.
o In October 2025 Network members drafted a vision for Washtenaw County: A
Resilient County, A Living Future

•

Shifting Demographics in a Changing Climate (Climate Migration)
 The 1st advisory group meeting was held on August 4, 2026
 The Shifting Demographics in a Changing Climate project seeks to equip local
leaders and community members with the knowledge, tools, and shared
understanding needed to anticipate demographic change, evaluate future
scenarios, and identify strategies that strengthen resilience, quality of life, and
opportunity across the county
 Six community conversations will take place in October/November 2026. These
conversations will help the team understand perceptions on climate migration and
frame the scenario planning workshop in 2027.

•

Hazard Mitigation Planning & Climate Vulnerability Assessment
 The County received 9 RFI responses. Upcoming steps include:
▪ Core Advisory Group convening mid-October
▪ Release of RFP October 22
▪ Final contract signed January 2027

•

Data Center: Resources with Washtenaw County Municipalities
 The Resiliency Office has Phase II Toolkit and Data Center Case studies now
available for review. Updated resources are available on the County website.

•

Renewable Energy Technical Assistance Program
 The Resiliency Office and U-M Center for EmPowering Communities will host a
workshop on tax and revenue from renewable energy and new industrial land uses
(with a focus on data centers).

3. Grants & Funding Update
• Hazard Mitigation Planning
 Washtenaw County received the grant contract from Michigan State Police for an
award to conduct a county-wide hazard mitigation planning process.
 Total award: $220,000, grant period February 2026 – June 2029.
 The County issued an RFI for a hazard mitigation plan and climate vulnerability
assessment on July 23, 2026
• Climate Migration/Welcoming Grant
o Invitation to apply for an extension of our current funding. This award would be for
$50,000 continuing through 2027.
• Anticipated EGLE Grants:
o A new round of Community Energy Management grants is anticipated in late
October.
o A new round of sponsorship grants is anticipated in October 2026
4. Outreach Updates
Upcoming Events Hosted by/supported by the Resiliency Office
o Safety/Wellness Fair, LRC Sept 18, 2026
 U-M Climate Week, U-Mich, Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, 2026

 Scio Sustainability Fair, October 4, 2026
5. Conferences and Regional Events
Event

U-M Climate Week

Hosting
Organization
City of Ann Arbor
OSI
U-Mich

Scio Sustainability Fair

Scio Township

Sept. 26 to Oct.
3, 2026
10/4/2026

RECESS Conference

RECESS

Sept 27-29

Ann Arbor Green Fair

Dates

Location

Sept 18, 2026

Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI

Detroit

Meijer on Jackson
Rd

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI
YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET REPORT EC
FOR 2026 08

JOURNAL DETAIL 2025

1 TO 2025

7

ORIGINAL
ESTIM REV

ESTIM REV
ADJSTMTS

REVISED
EST REV

ACTUAL YTD
REVENUE

REMAINING
REVENUE

PCT
COLL

0

5,000

5,000

400.00

4,600.00

8.0%

10101104 WC Environmental Council
805400 Special Events
10101104 805400

Special Events

2025/04/002356 04/10/2025 APM
2025/04/002357 04/10/2025 APM
2025/04/002358 04/10/2025 APM
2025/05/000997 05/21/2025 BUA

225.00 VND 288563 PO
225.00 VND 288563 PO
225.00 VND 288563 PO
5,000.00 REF

TOTAL WC Environmental Council

MICHIGAN STATE OF MICHIGAN STATE OF MICHIGAN STATE OF -

BRIAN GEIRINGER
GAY MACGREGOR
LAUREN SARGENT

457550
457550
457550

0

5,000

5,000

400.00

4,600.00

TOTAL EXPENSES

0

5,000

5,000

400.00

4,600.00

GRAND TOTAL

0

5,000

5,000

400.00

4,600.00

8.0%

8.0%

** END OF REPORT - Generated by Camellia Khorrami **

Report generated: 09/17/2026 13:51
User:
khorramic
Program ID:
glytdbud

Page

1

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI
YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET REPORT EC
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Total
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Report title:
YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET REPORT EC
Includes accounts exceeding
0% of budget.
Print totals only: N
Print Full or Short description: F
Print full GL account: N
Format type: 1
Double space: N
Suppress zero bal accts: Y
Include requisition amount: N
Print Revenues-Version headings: Y
Print revenue as credit: Y
Print revenue budgets as zero: N
Include Fund Balance: N
Print journal detail: Y
From Yr/Per: 2025/ 1
To Yr/Per: 2025/ 7
Include budget entries: Y
Incl encumb/liq entries: Y
Sort by JE # or PO #: P
Detail format option: 1
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Multiyear view: D
Amounts/totals exceed 999 million dollars: N

Year/Period: 2026/ 8
Print MTD Version: N
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Find Criteria
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Org
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10101104
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Report generated: 09/17/2026 13:51
User:
khorramic
Program ID:
glytdbud

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Washtenaw County Materials Management Planning Committee
DRAFT Goal Setting Framework (For Public Engagement/Feedback)
Goals: High-level understandable statement of direction
Targets: Statement of a clear, measurable target and a date certain
Measurement mechanism: describe how this target will be measured
Actions: specific actions that can be taken towards achieving the target





Responsible: Include responsible staff, communities, partners
County Role: Is the County’s role to implement, convene, or coordinate?
Infrastructure Status: Do we have the infrastructure, or does it need to be created?
Funding and Costs: Estimated costs from the County – do we have sufficient and
ongoing funding? If not, how will funding be created? Additional dollars required
from external organizations is not listed here.

Date Updated: 3/31/26

Goal 1 Data: Create County recycling and diversion rates based on local data
to measure plan progress.
Goal 2 Reduce and Reuse: Reduce consumption of new inorganic materials
within Washtenaw County. Expand the sharing economy in Washtenaw
County.
Goal 3 Organics, Food Loss, and Waste Reduction: Decrease the amount of
organic material discarded from Washtenaw County through source
reduction, food rescue, and composting.
Goal 4 Recycle: Return high value and high-quality streams of recyclable
materials to the local and regional economies.
Goal 5 Safe disposal for remaining items: Provide options, promote
alternatives, or develop opportunities for difficult to recycle or dispose of
materials so materials are collected safely and recycled or disposed of
properly.
Goal 6 Education: Provide education to support the goals.
Goal 7: Convene Construction and Demolition Stakeholders
1

Goal 8: Advocacy: Areas where policy intervention would be required to
advance the goals.

Goal 1 (Data): Create County recycling and diversion rates based on
local data to measure plan progress.
Target 1: Establish baseline data and measure biannually thereafter.










2

Action 1: Pass a hauler licensure ordinance in 2027 for materials haulers (e.g.,
waste, recycling, compost, food scraps, C&D) that requires solid waste materials be
delivered to designated County approved facilities with data reporting. Data
requirements may include service areas, number of parcels serviced, participation
rate, tons collected by location, delivery location, material sorts, or access to
material sorts.
o Responsible: Washtenaw County Materials Management Division (MMD),
BOC
o County Role: Develop, pass, and implement ordinance
o Costs and Funding: Staff time: estimated 150 hours, ~$5,000-$10,000 legal
fees; 100 hours annually to maintain.
Action 2: Establish and implement a mechanism for collecting data from waste
diversion centers, including material recovery facilities, compost yards, scrap metal
yards, thrift stores, and others that contribute to a diversion rate.
o Responsible: MMD, waste diversion centers
o County Role: Request, compile, analyze
o Costs and Funding: Staff time: ~150 hours initially, 50-100 hours annually
thereafter
Action 3: Collect Data from the at least 5-10 largest businesses/organizations and
track annually.
o Responsible: MMD, businesses/organizations
o County Role: Request, compile, analyze
o Costs and Funding: ~10-25 hours each time
Action 4: Create a mechanism for tracking sustainable materials management
behaviors such as consumption of single-use disposable items, reuse, and refill
activities.
o Responsible: MMD, other?
o County Role: Develop
o Costs and Funding: TBD
Action 5: Pursue the creation of a capture rate every three years.
o Responsible: MMD
o Required Partners: Municipalities Partner MRFs, Waste Haulers, Compost
facilities, Schools, others.

o County Role: Coordinate, Fund
o Costs and Funding: estimated $65,000 per report/rate

3

Goal 2 (Reduce and Reuse): Reduce consumption of new inorganic
materials within Washtenaw County.
Target 1: Reduce consumption








Action 1: Develop or partner with an existing campaign to encourage sustainable
consumption
o Responsible: Municipalities (such as Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability
and Innovation), businesses, non-profits, schools, MMD
o County Role: Support and share best practices, outreach
o Costs and Funding: TBD
o Metric: public survey, other?
Action 2: Develop or support a campaign to increase the use of personal reusable
items (e.g., water bottle, shopping bag, to-go food container, utensils)
o Responsible/Partners: Washtenaw County Health Educators
o County Role: Education Campaign
o Costs and Funding: TBD
o Metric: Public survey, waste characterization sort data, recycle
characterization sort data
Action 3: Develop or support a campaign to increase participation in refill
opportunities
o Responsible: Municipalities, businesses, non-profits, or MMD
o County Role: Education Campaign
o Costs and Funding: TBD
o Metric: Reporting from refilleries
Action 4: Develop or support a campaign for restaurant businesses to decrease the
distribution of single-use items with carryout food
o Responsible: Municipalities, non-profits, businesses
o County Role: Support, Education Campaign
o Costs and Funding: TBD
o Metric: Reporting from restaurants, other depending on campaign

Target 2: Increase resident participation in the sharing economy. Develop a
metric by 2033, such as public surveys, to measure participation over time.


4

Action 1: Develop or partner with an existing campaign to encourage acquiring used
items before buying new items via swaps, online buy-nothing groups, and thrift
operations
o Responsible: Thrift shops, educational organizations, libraries,
municipalities- such as Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovation,
non-profits

o County Role: Support and share best practices, outreach
o Costs and Funding: TBD

Target 3: Decrease total materials discarded into MCW and recycling from
XXX pounds per person per day to XXX pounds per person per day by DATE.



Action 1: Use available mechanisms and create new mechanisms to increase the
costs of disposal
Action 2: Use available mechanisms and create new mechanisms to lower the cost
of landfill diversion activities
 Responsible: Washtenaw County

Goal 3 (Food Loss and Waste Reduction): Decrease the amount of
food scraps discarded from Washtenaw County through food source
reduction, food rescue, and composting.
Target 1: Reduce food waste landfilled by 50% by 2030. Measure through
waste audits.








Action 1: Educate county residents about non-curbside food scrap composting
options at home and at drop-off locations
o Responsible: Washtenaw County, municipalities, partner organizations
o County Role: Program creation, convene, support
o Costs and Funding: Combined with other education campaign goals- add
one Staff person, estimated $120,000, plus $20-$30,000 annual budget
Action 2: Develop a campaign to increase food waste reduction behaviors – smarter
purchasing, label education, and eating leftovers.
o Responsible: Washtenaw County, municipalities, partner organizations
o County Role: Develop and fund
o Costs and Funding: See Goal 3, Target 1, Action 1
Action 3: Develop a campaign to eliminate food waste in landfills from commercial
and institutions including source reduction and increased composting
o Responsible: Washtenaw County, municipalities, partner organizations
o County Role: Develop and fund
o Costs and Funding: See Goal 3, Target 1, Action 1
Action 4: Use available mechanisms and create new mechanisms to lower the cost
of food scrap collection and processing and increase the costs of disposal
o TBD

Target 2: Increase the amount of food rescued in the community.
5



Action 1: Support programs to increase the amount of donated food to feed people
or animals including creating sustainable funding sources that recognize the value
of food rescue in materials management.
o Responsible: Non-profits, businesses, Washtenaw County
o County Role: Education, Data Collection (Forgotten Harvest)
o Costs and Funding: Staff time



Action 2: Provide information to relevant entities regarding food donation
opportunities, legal protections, and tax incentives. Provide support to entities
that rescue large quantities of food (over 100 tons annually). Provide financial
subsidies and technical assistance.
o Responsible: Washtenaw County
o County Role: Financial support
o Costs and Funding: Variable, estimated $50-$100,000



Action 3: Use local compost on farmland and as part of land redevelopment and
road reconstruction.
o Responsible: Municipalities, public works departments, road commissions,
farmers, conservation districts
o County Role: Encourage/support
o Costs and Funding: TBD

Goal 4 (Recycle): Return high value and high-quality streams of
recyclable materials to the local and regional economies.
Target 1: Increase recycling rate from XX to XX by DATE.
Note: The committee is considering a goal of increasing the recycling rate
from an estimated 23% to 30% by 2029 to match the state’s goal. Note that
the actual recycling rate is likely higher than 23%, but more data is needed to
justify an increase.
o Responsible: Washtenaw County, Municipalities, Non-profit partners,
haulers, MRF’s
o County Role: Implement Actions of the Plan

Target 2: Decrease readily recyclable material found in landfilled material
within Washtenaw County from an estimated 50,000 tons to 25,000 tons by
2030.


6

Action: Haulers, municipalities or authorities will send an educational mailer to
service-users annually

o Responsible: Curbside haulers, municipalities, or authorities
o County Role: Develop, pass, and implement hauler licensure ordinance
with a requirement to send an educational mailer biannually or annually
o Costs and Funding: TBD

Target 3: Increase participation in single-family curbside recycling services
from x% to x% by DATE


Action 1: Implement municipal contracts for curbside recycling, organics, and
waste collection so that 90% of single-family residences have curbside recycling
services by 2030
o Responsible: Municipalities
o County Role: Provide municipalities with technical assistance to facilitate
new or updated municipal ordinances and consistent RFP language such as
curbside collection of food waste with yard waste. The County will support
broader municipal participation in contracted services and/or participation in
regional authorities
o Costs and Funding: $10,000-$25,000 per municipality

Target 4: Increase access in multi-family curbside recycling services from x%
to x% by DATE.
Target 5: Increase participation in multi-family curbside recycling services
from x% to x% by DATE




Action 1: Encourage municipalities to adopt by ordinance that requires multifamily
units to have recycling and organics collection
o Responsible: Municipalities
o County Role: Encourage, provide technical support
o Costs and Funding: TBD
Action 2: Encourage municipalities to adopt by ordinance zoning requirements for
new multifamily units to have designated space for recycling, organics, and refuse
collection infrastructure
o Responsible: Municipalities
o County Role: Encourage, provide technical support
o Costs and Funding: TBD

Target 6: Increase access for commercial curbside recycling services from x%
to x% by DATE.
Target 7: Increase participation in commercial curbside recycling services
from x% to x% by DATE
7





Action 1: Encourage municipalities to adopt by ordinance that requires commercial
entities to have recycling and organics collection
o Responsible: Municipalities
o County Role: Encourage, provide technical support
Action 2: Encourage municipalities to adopt by ordinance zoning requirements for
new commercial construction to have designated space for recycling, organics, and
refuse collection infrastructure
o Responsible: Municipalities
o County Role: Encourage, provide technical support

Goal 5 (Safe disposal for remaining items): Provide options,
promote alternatives, or develop opportunities for difficult to recycle
or dispose of materials, so materials are collected safely and
recycled or disposed of properly.
Target 1: Maintain at least 9,000 appointments for HHW collections


Action 1:
o Responsible: MMD, Arbor Hills Landfill
o County Role: Provide services
o Infrastructure Status: Home Toxics Center requires ~$250,000 capital
improvements, HHW Center
o Costs and Funding: Home Toxics Center- $180,000 annually (disposal and
contracted labor); HHW Center: ~$200,000 annually (paid through CJ
through 2033)

Target 2: Provide outreach about existing opportunities for medical waste
disposal, electronics, batteries, plastic films, and polystyrene.


Action 1:
o Responsible: MMD, Pharmacies, Hospitals, Municipalities, Businesses,
Recycle Ann Arbor, law enforcement
o County Role: Promote existing opportunities. Provide sharps disposal
o Infrastructure Status: HHW Center, Home Toxics Center
o Costs and Funding: $5,000 for promotion, additional sharps disposal costs
included in Goal 5, Target 1, Action 1

Target 3: Continue to provide and support programs aimed at decreasing
illegal dumping.
8



Action 1: Provide financial support to comprehensive drop offs to lower
the residential cost of recycling difficult to recycle materials.
o Responsible: Municipalities, MMD
o Partners: Recycle Ann Arbor, businesses, Chelsea Transfer Station
o County Role: Provide referrals, financial support
o Infrastructure Status: Ann Arbor Drop off
o Costs and Funding: $50,000 annually



Action 2: Implement and/or support programs that provide low/no cost
opportunities for residents to safely dispose of or recycle hard to get rid of materials.
o Responsible: Municipalities, MMD
o Partners: Business providers, municipalities
o County Role: Provide service
o Costs and Funding: County Cleanup Days: $150,000 to $175,000 annually
(~$100,000-$125,000 after donations and municipal support); Municipal
Sponsorships for cleanups: $20,000 annually)

Goal 6 (Education): Provide education to support the goals.
Target: Reach 70% of Washtenaw County residents through outreach and
education using effective practices (e.g., community-based social marketing)
Actions:


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Educate county residents and businesses about the benefits of food scrap
reduction and composting.
Provide education, outreach, and guidance on appropriate recycling practices.
Publicize accepted recyclables in curbside and drop off collection to reduce
consumer confusion.
Develop a uniform set of materials that are currently prohibited from curbside
disposal and recycling, which must be recycled or disposed of at a special drop-off
location.
Develop a uniform set of materials that are required to be accepted as part of all
county recycling collection and processing.
Create and maintain an educational website.
o The website shall include a recycling guide, available in hard copy and on a
cell-phone friendly website, that identifies recycling locations, identifies
recyclable materials, explains how to prepare recyclable materials for
collection, and describes best practices.
o Responsible: MMD, municipalities, MRFs, Authorities, Environmental groups
o County Role: Coordinate efforts, create aggressive campaign(s)

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o Costs and Funding: $120,000 annually for staff, $10 per HH for outreachhalf of which would be through new revenue to be raised by MMD

Goal 7: Reduce Construction and Demolition waste
Target: Explore best practices and an ordinance for C&D Diversion. Create
specific C&D goals by 2035.
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Action: Convene stakeholders to gather data, develop best practices, and develop
goals
o Responsible: MMD, municipalities, support from business/non-profits
o County Role: Convene, Explore, Collect data and information. Share best
practices and consider incentives for Diversion. Pursue ordinance through
Board of Commissioners if appropriate
o Infrastructure Status: Existing RAA Recovery Yard. Likely requires additional
capacity or location for any C&D mandate
o Costs and Funding: Staff time- TBD, may require consultant study

Goal 8: Encourage the development of policies, ordinances, and
regulations that support sustainable materials management

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Action 1: Use advocacy tools to repeal the auxiliary food packaging ban that
restricts local governments from regulating single-use plastics. If repealed,
implement a tax on single-use plastics.
o Responsible: State of Michigan Authority. Board of Commissioners to lobby,
municipal resolutions of support. Board of Commissioners to create
ordinance. MMD to implement.
o County Role: Develop, pass, and implement an ordinance
o Costs and Funding: TBD

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Action 2: Support Bottle Bill Expansion Efforts
o Responsible: State of Michigan Authority. Board of Commissioners to lobby,
municipal resolutions of support
o County Role: Encourage, education
o Costs and Funding: Unknown

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Action 3: Support Extended Producer Responsibility Efforts
o Responsible: State of Michigan Authority. Board of Commissioners,
municipal resolutions of support
o County Role: Encourage, education

o Costs and Funding: Unknown

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Action 4: Advocate for EGLE licensing of Haulers statewide for consistent data
collection and county level comparisons
o Responsible: State of Michigan Authority. Board of Commissioners,
municipal resolutions of support
o County Role: Encourage, education
o Costs and Funding: Unknown

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Action 5: Advocate for landfill surcharge parity with other states to better align
economic incentives with MMP goals
o Responsible: State of Michigan Authority. Board of Commissioners to lobby,
municipal resolutions of support
o County Role: Encourage, education
o Costs and Funding: Unknown

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Action 6: Advocate for county-level recycling data collection and reporting for
returnables, thin film plastic, and other significant recyclable materials
o Responsible: State of Michigan Authority. Board of Commissioners,
municipal resolutions of support
o County Role: Encourage, education
o Costs and Funding: Unknown

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Action 7: Require paper labels (i.e., not plastic labels) on produce to support
composting quality
o Responsible: State of Michigan Authority. Board of Commissioners,
municipal resolutions of support
o County Role: Encourage
o Costs and Funding: Unknown

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Action 8: Eliminate toxics in the recycling and compost supply chains
o Responsible: TBD
o County Role: Encourage
o Costs and Funding: Unknown

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Action 9: Ban recyclables, compostables, and textiles from going to the landfill in
municipalities over 7,500 population by 2035.
o Responsible: Municipalities
o County Role: Encourage
o Costs and Funding: Enforcement costs would be high