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Fraser council narrowly backs county landfill expansion, drawing three dissenters
Summary
The Fraser City Council voted 4–3 on March 12 to support Mcome County’s proposed amendment to the county solid-waste management plan that would expand the Pine Tree Acres landfill and add a recycling transfer facility; dissenting council members said expansion risks lowering disposal prices and disincentivizing recycling.
The Fraser City Council voted 4–3 on March 12 to approve Resolution 2026003, backing Mcome County’s proposed amendment to its solid-waste management plan that would enlarge the Pine Tree Acres landfill and add a recycling transfer facility.
Why it matters: County officials and a representative of Waste Management told the council the plan would both extend the landfill’s life and create greater recycling capacity for the region. Supporters said the amendment helps ensure dependable disposal and increases the county’s ability to process recyclables; opponents said expanding disposal capacity can make waste cheaper and reduce incentives to recycle.
Deb Johnston of Waste Management told the council the proposed expansion would extend the landfill’s life by “about 25 years” and include a recycling-transfer facility that would route material to a Detroit material-recovery facility. “The state is pushing for higher recycling,” she said, describing the plan as part of that shift.
Council Member Higgins said she would vote no. “If we make waste disposal cheaper by building more capacity, we will lower the price of waste and I think the best way to incentivize recycling is by making disposal more expensive,” she said, framing her opposition as a values-based position on environmental policy.
Other council members pressed for more recycling options in the county and asked for clearer data on statewide recycling rates and tipping-fee policy. City Manager Leven and council members asked Waste Management about out-of-state and international disposal; Johnston said Pine Tree Acres accepts some Canadian waste and the company was being “very transparent” about that.
Vote and next steps: The council approved the resolution by roll call, 4–3. The meeting record shows Council Members Fletcher, Mayor Les, Mayor Prom Odell and Council Member Perry voting yes; Council Members Baransky, Higgins and Shornack voting no. The resolution indicates the city’s support will be forwarded to Mcome County as part of the plan-approval process.
What remains unresolved: Council members asked the county for more local recycling options and discussed whether tipping-fee structures should be revisited to encourage diversion. The council’s approval does not itself change county policy; it transmits the city’s position on the county amendment.
