To: Dr. Beverly Brown, Community & Economic Development Committee Chairperson
From: Derek Bradshaw, Director
title
RE: Designated Planning Agency Appointment for Materials Management Plan
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
GCMPC is requesting the Board of Commissioners to appoint GCMPC as the Designated Planning Agency (DPA) to prepare Genesee County’s Materials Management Plan (MMP).
BACKGROUND:
Governor Whitmer signed an eight-bill package (HB 4454-4461, also known as Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protections Act) into law on December 22, 2022. Effective March 29, 2023, this legislation updates Michigan’s solid waste management system with the primary intention of increasing the statewide recycling rate. As part of the new legislation, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is requiring each county in Michigan to develop a Materials Management Plan, previously called a Solid Waste Management Plan. The new MMPs will shift focus away from establishing landfill disposal capacity for garbage to waste diversion through recycling and composting programs. Funding will be provided by the State to counties to develop the new MMPs.
DISCUSSION:
GCMPC has held the responsibility of updating and implementing Genesee County’s existing Solid Waste Management Plan for over 25 years. Accordingly, GCMPC is requesting the Community and Economic Development Committee to appoint GCMPC as the Designated Planning Agency to prepare Genesee County’s Materials Management Plan. Appointing a DPA is one of the first steps in the process of creating Genesee County’s MMP. Once appointed, the DPA will handle the day-to-day tasks of plan development including data collection, managing public involvement, writing the plan, and working with the Materials Management Planning Committee (MMPC) who guide the DPA in drafting the MMP.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
No impact on human resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Development of the Genesee County Materials Management Plan will be funded through a Materials Management Planning Grant provided by the State to each County. Grant funding will be received once the CAA appoints a DPA as well as a MMPC and the DPA develops a work program that is approved by the MMPC and EGLE.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
No impact on facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
No impact on technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
To meet Genesee County’s priority of healthy, livable, and safe communities, the development of the Genesee County Materials Management Plan will shift focus away from landfill disposal capacity for garbage to enhancing local recycling and composting programs. These waste diversion programs are essential for preserving the environment, conserving resources, reducing energy consumption, and promoting sustainable practices. Waste diversion is a key component of a comprehensive approach to materials management that aims to minimize the environmental and social impacts of waste generation.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Planning Commission Director to authorize appointing the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission as the Designated Planning Agency (“DPA”) to prepare Genesee County’s Materials Management Plan (“MMP”), as required by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (“EGLE”) through Michigan Legislation HB 4454-4461, (Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protections Act); the primary duties of which will include the day-to-day tasks of the MMP development including data collection, managing public involvement, writing the plan, and working with the Materials Management Planning Committee, who will guide the DPA in drafting the MMP, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the April 17, 2024 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee of this Board).