Modern landfills use a bottom liner to prevent leachate from contaminating the environment. The original Arbor Hills Landfill (Arbor Hills East) is unlined and has historically impacted properties east of Napier Road in Northville Township, Wayne County. EGLE refers to the property directly east of Napier Road as the Arbor Hills Remediation Area due to past remediation performed to remove contaminants from the groundwater. Previous owners of Arbor Hills installed a subsurface slurry wall along the eastern border of Arbor Hills East and a groundwater gradient control system to contain the leakage.
Southeast Michigan Has Plenty of Landfill Capacity
There's No Need to Rush a Decision on a New Landfill
As Washtenaw County considers a proposal to build a new landfill in Salem Township, it must evaluate whether the facility is genuinely needed. The Annual Report of Solid Waste Landfilled in Michigan, FY2025 shows that the region has substantial landfill capacity.
We Love Our Canadian Neighbors, But We Don't Want Their Trash
From FY2022 through FY2025, Michigan landfills accepted a staggering 10 million tons of Canadian waste. For perspective, Arbor Hills Landfill accepted 6 million tons of waste from all sources.
Following the Corporate Money Trail
This massive influx isn't an accident—it's driven by profit. Mega-landfills like Pine Tree Acres (Waste Management), Carleton Farms (Republic Services), and, to a lesser extent, Arbor Hills (GFL Environmental) handle 95% of the Canadian waste entering Michigan and are run by multinational corporations. They exploit Michigan's low tipping fees and excess capacity simply to increase shareholder value at our expense.
The Legal Roadblock
While Michiganders agree this needs to stop, federal courts have ruled that solid waste is protected under interstate commerce laws. The courts, including the Supreme Court, have ruled that Michigan cannot regulate interstate commerce – only the Federal Government.
What We Can Do
While the legal path is difficult, solutions exist:
Leverage Host County Agreements: Host counties (like Macomb, Wayne, and Washtenaw) can make new landfill-capacity approvals contingent on voluntary agreements to cap or reduce Canadian waste.
Demand Federal Action: Congress must grant states explicit legal authority to restrict out-of-country municipal solid waste.
The solution is not easy, but we must keep trying to fix this imbalance. Michigan landfills should be preserved for Michigan Waste.
Take Action
Tell your local leaders in Wayne, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties to use their leverage and say no to turning Michigan into an international dumping ground for corporate profit!
Does Washtenaw Need a New Landfill?
Data can sometimes be very surprising. For instance, in FY2025, only 7% of the total waste accepted at the Arbor Hills Landfill (AHL) came from Washtenaw County, the host county itself. The vast majority of the waste originated elsewhere, with Wayne County, Oakland County, and even Canada making up the bulk of the intake.
Washtenaw MMP Update
The Washtenaw County Materials Management Planning process is moving forward at an alarming speed. After Green for Life presented its proposal to build and operate a new landfill just north of Six Mile Road in Salem Township, time is running out.
The MMP committee may vote to approve the new landfill as early as their January meeting (meeting date and time are TBA).
Continuing Compliance Issues at Arbor Hills Landfill: A Closer Look at Recent Violations
If Arbor Hills Goes Wrong, Who Pays?
Meeting Wednesday - GFL Presents Landfill Proposal
The Washtenaw County Materials Management Planning (MMP) Committee will meet
10 AM, Wednesday, August 19th
Washtenaw County Learning Center
4135 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor
The agenda for the meeting includes GFL presenting their proposal to construct a new landfill north of the Arbor Hills Landfill. The MMP Committee plans to hold a vote on GFL's proposal by the end of this year. This vote is a crucial step in the process of approving or denying GFL's proposal.
BetterWashtenaw
The Conservancy Initiative is encouraged to share that support for protecting Washtenaw County from the proposed new landfill is growing.
A new website, BetterWashtenaw, has begun publishing blog posts that align with our mission to oppose this proposed New Landfill in Salem Township. BetterWashtenaw highlights many of the same concerns we have raised. Additional opposition, such as BetterWashtenaw, helps raise public awareness.
We encourage our supporters to visit BetterWashtenaw, read their posts, and follow their updates. Just as importantly, please share the site with your friends, family, and colleagues, especially those located in Washtenaw County.
Together, we can continue to spotlight issues associated with the Arbor Hills site and inform anyone who will listen that a New Landfill in Washtenaw County is:
UNNEEDED
o Michigan leads the nation in Landfilled Waste per capita
o Michigan’s landfill capacity is approximately 23 years – this does not include landfill expansions which are in process
UNSAFE
o Arbor Hills' environmental compliance record is disqualifying
o Community odors and PFAS leaking into Johnson Creek
UNFAIR
o Washtenaw residents benefit while harming Wayne residents – Washtenaw is better than this!
o Washtenaw is an Environmental Leader – a New Landfill is not leadership.
EGLE Air Quality Inspection Findings
The Air Quality Division AQD of EGLE conducted a compliance review of air pollution regulations at the Arbor Hills Landfill in June 2026. The review included a site inspection, records review, and a Surface Emission Monitoring (SEM) survey. One violation notice was issued, and several troubling findings were documented.
The survey information is public but difficult for most residents to access and interpret because it is highly technical. The Conservancy Initiative is publishing this review to highlight key findings in plain English. We believe the community, including Washtenaw County leadership, must understand these findings as they consider GFL’s proposal to construct a New Landfill adjacent to the existing facility.
Washtenaw County Doesn't Need a New Landfill
Washtenaw County is already encircled by numerous long‑lived landfills. Within roughly 50 miles, there are 16 active facilities with about 13 years of permitted capacity remaining. Importantly, the state’s capacity figures reflect only space currently permitted by EGLE and exclude proposed expansions. Most of these sites are owned and operated by highly profitable corporations that are planning to increase capacity—not wind down operations. Several landfills, including Pine Tree Acres and McGill Road Landfill, are actively seeking permits to expand.
Washtenaw County MMP Meetings: Schedule, Strategy, and Landfill Approvals
Over the next 6–8 months, Washtenaw County will take the critical steps to approve or deny the proposed New Landfill north of Six Mile Road. This post provides residents with publicly available information on upcoming Materials Management Planning (MMP) Committee meetings, public comment opportunities, and how these fit into the decision timeline.
Washtenaw County Should Not Gamble on GFL
Michigan Doesn't Need a New Arbor Hills Landfill
Salem Can Keep Taxes Low Without a NEW LANDFILL
This blog post reviews Salem Township’s financial position. The Township has some of the lowest tax rates in Southeast Michigan. Based on our review of the Township’s financial statements, the Township is well prepared for the shutdown of Arbor Hills and should not need to raise taxes when the landfill stops accepting trash.
Fundraising Challenge Update: Its Not too Late to Help
We have encouraging news to share. The Conservancy Initiative has raised $14,250 toward our matching gift challenge. Thank you to the many who have donated. It's not too late to help us meet this challenge. To donate and have your gift matched, or to stay informed and subscribe to updates, visit https://conservancyinitiative.org/take-action
A generous Northville resident has pledged to match every donation up to $25,000, so your contribution today will go twice as far.
Why This Campaign Matters Now
With a decision on the proposed new landfill expected later this year, this is a critical moment for our community. Your donations help The Conservancy Initiative educate and mobilize Washtenaw County voters through digital outreach, direct mail, yard signs, and in-person community engagement. Our goal is to ensure the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners clearly hears that residents do not want a new landfill in Salem Township.
The proposed new landfill is unneeded, unsafe, and unfair. Michigan already has more than 20 years of landfill capacity. The existing Arbor Hills site has a troubling history of violations and odor complaints, and nearby communities bear the pollution while others receive the financial benefits.
Every Contribution Counts
This is a nonpartisan community issue about protecting clean air, clean water, and the health of nearby neighborhoods. Every contribution, large or small, helps strengthen the public's voice at this pivotal time.
The Conservancy Initiative is a volunteer-run, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Why Is GFL Getting a New Landfill When They Can't Control PFAS at Arbor Hills?
Sometimes the truth hurts. But the truth is exactly what county officials and the public need before they make an irreversible decision to add a NEW LANDFILL on top of an operator already struggling to control PFAS at its existing site. Here is the truth that needs to be considered.
The Arbor Hills Landfill is a significant source of PFAS contamination in southeast Michigan, yet little is being done to stop the pollution. At the same time, Washtenaw County is considering whether to let the landfill's owner, Green for Life (GFL), build a NEW LANDFILL just north of Arbor Hills.
Help Stop a New Garbage Dump in Our Community
We have exciting news - An anonymous Northville resident has generously pledged to match every donation to The Conservancy Initiative up to $25,000, so your gift today will go twice as far. With a decision on the proposed new landfill expected later this year, this is a critical moment to act.
Your donation will help educate and mobilize Washtenaw County voters through digital outreach, direct mail, yard signs, and in-person community engagement so the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners hears clearly that residents do not want a new landfill in Salem Township.
The proposed NEW LANDFILL is unneeded, unsafe, and unfair. Michigan already has more than 20 years of landfill capacity; the existing Arbor Hills site has a troubling history of violations and odor complaints, and nearby communities bear the pollution while others receive the financial benefits.
This is a nonpartisan community issue about protecting clean air, clean water, and the health of nearby neighborhoods. Every contribution, large or small, helps strengthen the public's voice at a pivotal time.
Stay informed and subscribe at: https://conservancyinitiative.org/
The Conservancy Initiative is a volunteer-run, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Washtenaw County Board of Commissioner Comments
Say it all in 3 Minutes …
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners accepts public comments near the beginning of every meeting. The meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. https://www.washtenaw.org/2874/Board-Meeting-Agendas-Minutes
