St. Clair County adopts 10-year solid waste management plan after public hearing

The St. Clair County Commission on March 11 held a public hearing and adopted the county's 10-year solid waste management plan, a document county staff said defines local solid waste streams and outlines collection, disposal and recycling approaches.

County staff opened the hearing with a summary of the plan, saying it covers "any garbage, rubbish, construction or demolition debris, ash, or sludge from a waste treatment facility" and describes where waste is generated, collection boundaries and recycling initiatives. A speaker who identified themselves as a staff member told commissioners the plan had been under development for about six months and commended administrative staff and participating cities for their work.

An unidentified speaker who summarized a legal review said, "I have reviewed it. I have no legal objection to it," and encouraged the commission to adopt the plan. A separate commissioner noted the federal requirement behind the plan, referring to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act as the federal rule that triggers the 10-year review.

Commissioners voiced general support during the hearing and later, as part of the regular meeting agenda, moved to adopt the plan. The motion passed after the chair called for the ayes.

The plan's supporters said routine 10-year updates help avoid improper disposal and reduce environmental harm from unregulated landfills; commissioners also discussed recycling as an area the county has struggled to sustain over time. No public commenters raised objections during the hearing.

The adoption satisfies the county's 10-year planning cycle and documents local definitions and goals for solid waste, disposal and recycling. The commission did not attach additional conditions to the adoption during the March 11 meeting.

The county did not provide a full vote tally in the public record for the adoption motion; minutes record the motion carried on an oral vote.