EGLE director urges fee modernizations, pitching $5 tipping fee to backfill Renew Michigan

Director Travis Roos, who leads the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), told the House Committee on Environmental Great Lakes on June 24 that the department’s executive budget for fiscal 2026–27 emphasizes protecting core services and modernizing decades‑old fees to avoid fiscal shortfalls.

"Michigan's an enduring national leader in environmental protection," Roos said, framing his presentation around an agency ‘‘Vision 2027’’ and arguing that environmental cleanup and water infrastructure deliver measurable economic benefits. He told the committee EGLE has invested about $6.3 billion since 2019 in drinking‑water, wastewater and stormwater projects that, he said, support roughly 100,000 jobs.

Why it matters: Roos said most of EGLE’s funding is restricted (about 89%), the department represents roughly 1% of the state budget and the governor faces a roughly $1.8 billion budget shortfall statewide. To preserve core services, EGLE proposes fee updates to stabilize programs and to invest in digitization and preparedness.

Key proposals and figures

Tipping fee and Renew Michigan: Roos proposed raising Michigan’s solid‑waste surcharge (tipping fee) from 36¢ per ton to $5 per ton. He estimated the increase would raise about $80 million annually and said nearly all proceeds would…