ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor officials are backing Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal to increase the state's trash tip fees, and they're hoping the Michigan Legislature acts on it in the next month.

"Michigan's extremely low solid waste tip fee makes Michigan a dumping ground for garbage from other states and from Canada," the City Council stated in a resolution unanimously approved Monday night, Nov. 19, noting more than 25 percent of the trash currently being buried in Michigan landfills is imported.

The council voiced support for increasing Michigan's solid waste tip fee from 36 cents per ton to $4.44 per ton to, in part, provide $24 million per year for recycling and solid waste management programs.

"This has been a problem with the state for a long time where their tip fees are outrageous and we're getting more trash from Toronto than we generate here inside the state, and so I'm happy to support this," said Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward.

"It's a clean water issue," he added.

The resolution makes note of neighboring states' rates: $13 per ton in Wisconsin, $6.25 per ton in Pennsylvania, $4.75 per ton in Ohio and 60 cents per ton in Ohio, with an average of $5.30 per ton.

Council Member Jane Lumm, in independent from the 2nd Ward, said Michigan's rates seem ridiculously low by comparison and "it's problematic that Michigan is a big importer of trash."

Council Member Chip Smith, D-5th Ward, said it's his understanding the governor's proposal is stuck in committee right now and the hope is that it shakes loose during the Legislature's lame-duck session.

"This would let our representatives know that we are in support of this, albeit rather meager, allocation of increased tip fees, but something's better than nothing, and we would simply like our delegation to advocate for this during this crazy period called lame duck," he said as the council approved the resolution.

Based on current tonnages being sent to landfills, Ann Arbor officials estimate the increased fees would cost the city a minimum of $225,000 per year, but they say it would fund increased opportunities for residents and businesses to recycle and the city could receive grant or loan funding for programs through the state.

"Michigan's recycling rate is one of the lowest in the nation at 15% and over $368 million of valuable, recyclable materials are buried in Michigan landfills each year," states the resolution the council approved at the request of the city's Environmental Commission.

"To derive the maximum economic benefit from the recycling of these materials, active development of more markets for recyclables in Michigan is needed," it continues. "Funding from the proposed fee increase would help support continued growth of county, municipality, township, and regional recycling and composting programs."

Snyder has said he wants to triple Michigan's recycling rate. In April, he voiced support for Senate Bill 943 proposed by Sen. Mike Nofs to increase landfill tip fees, but it hasn't moved out of committee.