The U.S. House of Representatives moved Tuesday to severely restrict trash imports from Canada -- although the legislation must be approved by the Senate, which observers say is unlikely to happen.
Michigan gets about 400 trucks full of garbage from southern Ontario each day.
Michigan Republican member Candice Miller said it's ironic Canada has a reputation for being environmentally conscious when it's using her state as its "own personal garbage can."
"God forbid they'd pollute their own environment and endanger their own citizens with this trash," she said.
But the House, which passed a nearly identical bill last year, couldn't muster Senate support. Instead, Democrat Carl Levin and Republican Debbie Stabenow brokered a deal with Ontario to phase out municipal waste imports by 2010.
The Ontario Environment Minister's office says the pact is having a positive impact in Canada.
"It sets a timeline for mobilizing municipalities to face realities and set targets," Anne O'Hagan, spokesperson for Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten, told the Canadian Press.
"The agreement is having a good effect and we're just going to keep plugging away."
Observers say the deal should hold since there's little political advantage for senators from other states not affected by the issue to renege on it now and follow the House.
But House legislators are already plotting to push the Senate to pass legislation letting states regulate their own garbage imports.
"For too long, Michigan has had its hands tied by the federal government and it is time to let decisions about the integrity and safety of our land be made by those who inhabit the land,'' said Republican Tim Walberg.
Canada has long argued that legislation limiting waste contravenes U.S. obligations under the free-trade pact and World Trade Organization.
In a letter earlier this month to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ambassador Michael Wilson said Canadian officials strongly believe the issue can be managed without resorting to legislation.
He noted Ontario has already taken steps to clear the first two hurdles of 20-per-cent reductions at the end of 2007 and 2008 -- with about 50 million tonnes of new landfill capacity approved by Ontario.
Wilson has backers in the U.S. administration, who warned Pelosi on Monday the bill could have "the unintended result of increasing the disposal of hazardous waste in the United States."
According to the EPA, about 230 American companies in over 32 states shipped hazardous waste to Canada in 2004 alone.
Trash facts:
- Toronto trucks about 20 per cent of the Canadian trash going to Michigan landfills.
- The city is shipping about 82 truckloads a day this year, down from 142 trucks in 2003.
- According to the EPA, about 230 American companies in over 32 states shipped hazardous waste to Canada in 2004 alone.
- The Michigan state House passed legislation last week that would increase dumping charges from 21 cents to US$750 a tonne in a bid to discourage trash from Canada. A similar fee increase in 2005 was blocked by the state Senate.
With a report from The Canadian Press
