ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On August 4, Delta County voters will see a millage renewal for solid waste management on their ballots.
In addition to landfill services, the Delta Solid Waste Management Authority offers a variety of recycling options.
“Paper, plastic, and cardboard products,” Administrative Manager Jessica Ketcham said. “We also offer composting free of charge as well, so all of our recycling programs are currently free of charge to all Delta County residents.”
According to Ketcham, the Authority’s recycling program has kept more than 58,000 tons of waste out of the landfill since 1992. Since 1998, its household hazardous waste disposal program has kept more than 270,000 tons of materials out of the landfill.
“That involves being able to bring in your paint cans, your spray paints, used oil, solvents, batteries, lightbulbs, all of those things that are not safe to put in the landfill,” said Ketcham. “Now, there are other areas in the U.P. where there is limited access to household hazardous waste programs, but they only offer a few hours once or twice a month, where ours is available all day long every day during our normal business hours.”
For the last decade, that work has been funded by a rate of .300 mills. Next week, voters have the option to renew the millage for another ten years.
“That would be at .297 mills, so it’s actually a sliver less than it has been,” Ketcham said. “If you’re looking at a home with a value of $100,000, you’re looking at $29.70 a year. Break it down, it’s less than a cup of coffee a month to be able to have these programs available.”
If the millage is not renewed, Ketcham says the authority would need to raise rates by about $10 per ton to keep its current programs going.
“That would not just affect people who are coming directly into the landfill,” she explained. “All of our carriers that transport garbage for the customers—be that the cities or the extended rural carriers—they would be needing to adjust their rates to compensate for the change in rates, so that would be passed on to their clients as well.”
Ketcham says renewing this millage and keeping services affordable would benefit customers, the landfill, and the environment.
“We can keep additional things out of the landfill that are not safe,” she said. “We’re able to put things into the recycling program so they’re able to be reused, keep the earth greener and cleaner, and also extend the use of that landfill so that we are able to keep the longevity of that as well. We love being able to service the residents of Delta County and the extended areas.”
To see all of the materials the Delta Solid Waste Management Authority accepts, click here.
