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Owosso joins county recycling work group to prepare for changes to PA 451
Summary
Council approved appointments to a countywide recycling work group, led by a Cook Family Foundation–facilitated collaboration, to plan for compliance with upcoming amendments to Public Act 451 and to explore regional recycling and resource-recovery options.
The Owosso City Council voted to appoint the mayor and the city manager to a recycling work group that will explore countywide recycling and resource-recovery options and prepare for upcoming changes to Public Act 451, the state law that governs solid waste and recycling.
Tom Cook of the Cook Family Foundation told the council during the citizen-comment period that the foundation has been convening a collaboration including the City of Owosso, Shiawassee County, the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership, the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Shiawassee Community Foundation. “Recycling seems to have gotten a lot of attention throughout Shiawassee County,” Cook said. He described the foundation’s role as facilitator and logistical supporter, not a replacement for statutory duties of local governments.
City Manager Henney described the resolution as appointing the city manager and a council member to the facilitator-led work group and recommended the mayor serve as the council’s representative to match the county’s lead representative.
Resident “Miss Mackey” commented during public remarks that past recycling efforts have sometimes resulted in collected materials being landfilled because markets for plastics and glass are weak, and cautioned against adding cost burdens to residents for recycling that may not be sold. “Nobody’s buying the plastic. Nobody’s buying the glass. There’s no money in it. It’s going right to the dump,” she said.
The council approved the appointments by roll-call vote. The resolution tasks the work group with planning and discussing countywide options before the PA 451 application deadline, and with exploring partnerships and potential grant assistance.
