Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the House of Representatives approved the International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007, which would reduce the amount of trash imported from other countries. Congressman Kildee is an original co-sponsor of the bill. This legislation now needs to be approved by the Senate.

“The growing amount of foreign trash coming into Michigan is polluting our environment, clogging our roadways, increasing the health and safety risks in our state, and poses a security threat,” Congressman Kildee said. “This legislation will give Michigan the power to protect its border from foreign waste helping to preserve our state’s environment and safety.” 

Nationally, more than four million tons of waste is transported from Canada to the U.S. each year, with three-quarters of it coming to Michigan.  In Michigan alone, Canadian trash deposits have increased more than five-fold from 1999 to 2006.

In addition to environmental problems, this foreign waste has created national security and safety concerns. In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General released a report finding that U.S. Customs does not have an effective method to screen and inspect the hundreds of truckloads of municipal solid waste that enter the U.S. daily through the Detroit and Port Huron ports of entry. Also, multiple incidents have occurred where Canadian trash trucks have spilled waste on Michigan roadways.

The International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007 would allow states to pass laws or write regulations that would reduce the amount of municipal solid waste they receive from foreign countries. This federal legislation is necessary since states need authorization to place restrictions on foreign trash, which is an international commodity.

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