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.
Fig. 1 - Carleton Farms landfill can contain the combined intake of Carleton Farms and Arbor Hills for 20+ years.
For perspective, just one facility—Carleton Farms—has enough permitted capacity to contain all the waste currently sent to Arbor Hills for 23 years.
Another facility, Pine Tree Acres, is seeking approval of a massive landfill expansion of 75,000,000 cu yards. The proposed expansion will increase Pine Tree Acres' capacity to contain all the waste currently sent to Arbor Hills for over 20 years.
While these high-level calculations provide valuable insight, this preliminary analysis is likely not sufficient on its own to fully verify capacity in the area. The Conservancy Initiative (TCI) supports a more detailed study but cautions that all input assumptions must be realistic and account for probable landfill expansion in the area.
Given robust regional capacity and market flexibility, Washtenaw County should not rush a decision to build a new landfill. With ample space and competitive options already at hand, we have the luxury of time to evaluate our path forward carefully and responsibly.
