justnorth posted on April 23, 2007 04:42 :: 1724 Views
The Department of Natural Resources reminds citizens who are doing their spring cleaning to ensure that trash and building debris are disposed of legally.
"There are nearly 1,100 known illegal dumpsites on public land in Michigan," said Ada Takacs, coordinator of the Adopt-a-Forest program. "It is estimated that those sites represent only 25 percent of what's actually been dumped illegally on public land."
Takacs said citizens can help by requiring landfill receipts from anyone who offers to haul away their trash for a fee if the hauler is not a licensed disposal company.
"It's amazing how many times we find proof of dumping in the woods, only to find out that the person who generated the trash paid someone to dispose of it for them," said Sgt. Peter Malette, area law enforcement supervisor for the DNR. "The person who generated the trash is still responsible for it under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act."
Many communities offer curbside pickup and/or annual trash collection days. Composting sites and recycling stations also are available across the state. If your community does not offer these services, citizens are encouraged to contact local units of government to learn what legal disposal options are available. Another source is the Department of Environmental Quality Web site at www.michigan.gov/deq under the Solid Waste section.
Last year, 800 truckloads of trash were removed from public lands by volunteers with the Adopt-a-Forest program. Many of these sites were investigated by DNR conservation officers and proof of dumping was found. Trash is not only unsightly, but it also can cause potential harm to the environment and wildlife.
For more information about Michigan's Adopt-a-Forest program, contact Takacs at (989) 275-5151, ext. 2049.
Article Source:
http://justnorth.com/Articles/tabid/105/articleType/AuthorView/authorID/12/justnorth.aspx