US Rep. Stevens holds hearing to examine recycling technologies

Plymouth, Michigan, City Manager Paul Sincock will testify to the recycling challenges faced by communities in Michigan’s 11th District.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens.

Congresswoman Haley Stevens (Michigan-11), chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Research & Technology, will convene a hearing titled “Closing the Loop: Emerging Technologies in Plastics Recycling” April 30 in Washington. The hearing “will examine emerging recycling technologies and the technology gaps that prevent more of our plastics from being recycled” and will be the first House Science Subcommittee hearing about recycling in a decade, according to a news release.

The hearing comes as municipalities in southeast Michigan struggle to maintain their recycling programs after China banned imports or most plastic recyclable materials. The issue was brought to Congresswoman Stevens’ attention during a recent meeting with the Conference of Western Wayne, an organization of 18 communities in Wayne County that created a task force to discuss potential solutions to the “recycling crisis.” In response to their concerns, Stevens initiated the hearing and invited Plymouth, Michigan, City Manager Paul Sincock to testify.

“One of the things I’ve heard about from local leaders in my district is the challenge they're facing to maintain their recycling programs,” Stevens remarks. “As waste management companies are no longer able to sell recyclables to China, they are driving up their domestic pricing to recoup costs. Costs that fall squarely on our municipalities. In many cases, U.S. cities are being forced to cut longstanding recycling programs and are instead incinerating recyclables or leaving them in landfills, releasing dangerous emissions. Americans who are trying to do the right thing for our environment are left unaware that their efforts are for naught.”

In February, Toronto-based GFL Environmental Inc., a waste hauler that provides curbside recycling services in Southeast Michigan, sent letters to more than 60 Michigan communities outlining the ripple effect of China's import ban and proposing a fee increase of $2.09 per household per month to process recyclables. The hauler offered an option to divert collected recyclables to an incinerator without a fee increase, according to a Downtown Publications report.

GFL doesn't operate material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the Southeast Michigan region and contracts with Phoenix, Arizona-based Republic Services to process recyclables from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne Counties. GFL says its processing fees from Republic have increased 60 percent. 

Westland, Michigan, has decided to avoid the fee increase by diverting recyclables to the landfill. Other communities in Michigan’s 11th District "are worried about having to make similarly tough decisions," the release says.

The hearing will be live streamed on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee YouTube page at 2 p.m. April 30.

The following will present oral testimonies:

  • Paul Sincock, city manager, Plymouth, Michigan
  • Govind Menon, director, School of Science and Technology, Troy University
  • Gregg Beckham, senior research fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Tim Boven, recycling commercial director, Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Dow

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