Lynn Schenkman

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John Dingell and Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, all Michigan Democrats, are planning to introduce legislation in the House and Senate to call attention to what they believe is an overlooked agreement between the United States and Canada. The lawmakers hope a glitch in a treaty between Canada and the United States regarding waste shipments could prevent more waste from entering Michigan, which now receives all of Toronto’s trash. Since Toronto's Keele Valley Landfill closed in December, 23,750 tons of Canadian waste rolls into Sumpter Township, Mich., each week.

"This legislation will give Michigan residents the protection they are entitled to under this bilateral treaty," Stabenow said. "These waste shipments should no longer be accepted without a thorough examination of how it will affect the health and welfare of Michigan families." According to the Associated Press, the Toronto trash will push Sumpter’s refuse royalties from $2.2 million to $3.4 million.