The Conservancy Initiative is focused on the environmental compliance concerns of the Arbor Hills Landfill and their effects on our community. As a primary way to support these efforts, we have developed relationships with EGLE and Northville Township leadership. These relationships have enabled us to better engage with EGLE to ensure enforcement and/or gained a better understanding of the conditions at the landfill by ensuring transparency and compliance. We believe this approach has been very effective at recognizing the landfill as a chronic violator that has not been a good neighbor to us. To aid transparency, we have supported keeping the landfill in the headlines and the public spotlight. It is important we continue these activities to ensure compliance with environmental requirements and to have visibility into their plans, including possible future expansion of the landfill.
The Conservancy Initiative Board of Directors is reaching out to the community surrounding the Arbor Hills Landfill for help. We are looking for involvement from disciplined members, with fresh ideas, willing to assist with our activities. We are currently in the process of establishing a community group to periodically meet with the landfill management and potentially EGLE inspectors to establish and communicate current findings back to the community. This committee could be an excellent opportunity for several new members to work with The Conservancy Initiative and guide it through the next several years.
The next five years will be very important as we have seen a relaxation in enforcement since the Attorney General’s lawsuit was settled with a consent judgment issued in March 2022. There have been very few environmental violations issued since the Consent Judgement, but the landfill has not changed significantly. We believe the relaxation in enforcement is by design, as EGLE lightens up a little to give Arbor Hills a chance to implement the requirements of the recently issued Consent Judgment.
If you are interested in learning more, we are planning on setting up a Conservancy Initiative board meeting and inviting guests to learn more and explore the possibility of greater involvement. We are looking for community members with an open mind, meeting decorum, and a desire to support our community.
If you are interested, please respond with a note to info@theconservancyinitiative.org or reach out to any of the current Conservancy Initiative Directors.
The Conservancy Initiative is a 100% volunteer organization dedicated to driving compliance at the Arbor Hills Landfill and preventing the expansion of the landfill beyond its current footprint.