The Arbor Hills Landfill is significantly impacting Johnson Creek, and they are getting away with it. The Stormwater runoff leaving Arbor Hills’ property has contained PFAS contamination above allowable levels since at least 2020. EGLE and Green for Life, the landfill owners, are both aware of the contamination, but little has been done about it. Even more blatant is the impact of the Suspended Solids Arbor Hills is discharging into Johnson Creek. Muddy, cloudy, turbid water is discharged to Johnson Creek daily. Due to poor erosion control practices, suspended solids produce turbid water and lower the dissolved oxygen the creek needs to sustain aquatic life. Arbor Hills is causing harm to Johnson Creek.

The Conservancy Initiative observed stormwater runoff being channeled down the massive landfill using a man-made rock riverbed designed for runoff. The foam was forming down the hill and was visible from a moving vehicle. Something is not right here! What was causing the foam? Something must be getting in the stormwater runoff to cause the foam. Foam on waterways can be an indication of PFAS contamination.

An investigative article has been published by a Canadian periodical, The Local, which discusses the environmental and community impact of GFL Environmental, a Canadian waste management company that currently owns the Arbor Hills Landfill. Despite GFL's self-proclaimed commitment to sustainability and its "Green for Life" branding, local residents near its landfills report significant issues, such as foul odors, water contamination, and disruptions to their quality of life.

In August 2023, a sampling crew from EGLE made a startling discovery. They found significant suspended solids in the stormwater runoff from Arbor Hills Landfill being discharged into Johnson Creek. This is a matter of concern as the suspended solids reduce dissolved oxygen levels and increase water temperature, harm fish gills, reduce water clarity, hinder fish feeding, and impede plant life. Moreover, the suspended solids eventually settle in the creek and cover crucial rock and gravel formations required for spawning, posing a significant threat to the aquatic ecosystem. 

During the first 20 days of May, neighbors submitted 45 odor complaints, which actually occurred on just 10 days. This is not due to an improvement at the landfill but rather because the wind blows away from Northville approximately half of the time. Unfortunately, the heavy truck traffic clogs our roads no matter which way the wind blows. 

While we can’t pinpoint the exact date when Arbor Hills Landfill will reach its permitted capacity, we know it's approaching. A report prepared by EGLE in early 2024 estimated the landfill will fill to capacity in 6 years (see Table 4 on page 6 of 50). This aligns with our predictions based on the permitted capacity filled each year. It's important for us as a community to stay informed about these developments. 

The Arbor Hills Landfill should reach its capacity within six years or less. The landfill owner, Green for Life (GFL), is expected to request additional capacity later this year. An expansion to the property directly north of the current landfill, north of Six Mile Road, is possible. To prepare for the upcoming landfill debate. The Conservancy Initiative thoroughly analyzed the FY 2023 Annual Report on Solid Waste Landfilled in Michigan, extracting data that may interest our readers. 

The Conservancy Initiative is convinced that as long as the Arbor Hills Landfill is operational, Northville Township will continue to experience odors, traffic concerns from landfill-bound heavy trucks, and contamination to Johnson Creek. This year may be pivotal in our fight to end landfill operations in Salem Township. At the current operational levels, Arbor Hills has less than 6 years of capacity.  We expect Green for Life (GFL) will approach Washtenaw County and EGLE later this year to request additional landfill capacity at the site.  

Governor Whitmer has proposed increasing Michigan’s landfill tipping fees, from $0.36 per ton to $5.00 per ton of waste. While this may sound drastic, this adjustment merely aligns Michigan's tipping fees with those of other midwestern states. The proposed increase is projected to generate $80 million in ongoing revenue, which will be allocated towards crucial environmental initiatives such as remediation efforts, brownfield development, and promoting recycling initiatives. 

In a press release and a letter sent to county executives today, EGLE announced the start of the Material Management Planning (MMP) process. The MMP process is required by Michigan’s waste regulations (mcl-324.115) which were amended in December 2022. The amended regulations require each county to develop Material Management Plans for the waste generated in their county with a focus on improving Michigan's recycling from <20% to 45%. This improvement will greatly reduce the demand for landfill capacity in Michigan.  

In July 2023, Green for Life initiated operations in Cell 6 at the Arbor Hills Landfill, situated dangerously close to Northville Township neighborhoods, near the intersection of Napier and Six Mile Roads. The Conservancy Initiative immediately raised a red flag, expressing concerns about the poor environmental compliance record of Arbor Hills and the potential impact of Cell 6 on the community. Unfortunately, our fears have proven valid.

EGLE’s comments questioned GFL's assertion that “The combined efforts of all the remedial construction conducted by the Arbor Hills staff appears to have eliminated the odor source.” EGLE acknowledged it appeared the odor problem may have been solved when there was only 1 odor complaint related to Arbor Hills from October 13th – 16th but when over 30 odor complaints were received between October 17th – 20th, EGLE returned to the landfill area to make an assessment. Noxious odors were observed in Northville Township neighborhoods on October 20th and a second Violation Notice. 

On October, 26th Northville Township filed a motion in the 3rd Circuit Court of Wayne County to request a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) requiring the Arbor Hills Landfill (AHL) to stop placing waste in Cell 6A. Please take a moment to review this legal document.  

Since Cell 6 began operation in July, the wind direction, not any action taken by GFL, is the most important variable to predict noxious odors. If the wind blows towards Northville Township, expect excess emissions and noxious odors in the Northville Township neighborhoods.  

On October 5th and 6th over 60 odor complaints were submitted by residents living downwind of the Arbor Hills Landfill. On October 10th, EGLE issued a Violation Notice to Green for Life for creating nuisance odors outside of their property boundary.

The chart below demonstrates noxious odors from the Arbor Hills Landfill began immediately after Cell 6 was put into use in early July. As the odor complaints have grown, we have learned the Gas Collection and Control System (GCCS) for Cell 6 is not ready for use.  

Waste should not have been placed in Cell 6 until the GCCS was ready for use.

As the weather has started to change, the odors from the Arbor Hills Landfill have become much stronger, and more noxious. The weather has predictably made a seasonal shift. Temperatures have begun to drop, and the wind started blowing out of the Southwest (i.e. towards Northville Township neighborhoods). On October 5th and 6th, more than 50 odor complaints were received. The odor is a very strong, noxious, garbage odor emanating from the newly opened Cell 6.

The Conservancy Initiative is reporting another result from our random sampling of the Johson Creek Tributary directly downstream of the landfill. Our samples are as representative of the landfill’s stormwater runoff as we can obtain without gaining access to the landfill’s property. The sample contained PFOS at a concentration of 54 ng/l which is more than 4x higher than Michigan’s Water Quality Standards (12 ng/l). This result is consistent with our previous results.  

A new Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Center will be opening at 10843 West Five Mile Road, inside the Arbor Hills Landfill Complex. The Household Hazardous Waste Center will serve:

1. Northville Township Residents

2. Residents of the City of Northville

3. Washtenaw County Residents

The Conservancy Initiative has new test results to report that confirm the Arbor Hills Landfill is continuing to impact Johnson Creek with PFOS. A sample taken from the Johnson Creek tributary directly downstream of the Arbor Hills Landfill on June 29, 2023, contained 38 ngl/l of PFOS which is well above water quality standards (R 323.1057) for surface waters of 12 ng/l.