Judge Blocks Hazardous Waste Shipments to Michigan Landfill Over Safety Concerns
Detroit-area communities win court battle halting toxic waste deliveries tied to U.S. military cleanup sites.
A judge has halted government contractors in five U.S. states from shipping hazardous waste to a landfill in Michigan, following a year of legal challenges from Detroit-area communities concerned about potential environmental risks.
Wayne County Judge Kevin Cox ruled that the risks presented to the court were “substantial and compelling,” outweighing the financial losses to the Wayne Disposal landfill — a facility operated by waste management giant Republic Services in suburban Detroit.
Cox’s order prohibits Wayne Disposal from accepting waste shipments from: Luckey, Ohio; Middletown, Iowa; Deepwater, New Jersey; Lewiston, New York; and St. Louis, Missouri.
U.S. Military Waste Cleanup and the Michigan Landfill Ban
These cleanup sites are overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors. The hazardous materials include substances produced for weapons, atomic energy, and other uses before and after World War II.
Jane Miller, spokesperson for the Army Corps of Engineers’ environmental division, said Thursday: “Shipments have been halted, and we are working closely with our contractors to determine the next steps.”
She explained that the contaminated soil in Lewiston is linked to the Manhattan Project — the U.S. government’s secret program to develop atomic bombs during World War II.
While the Michigan lawsuit was pending, officials decided to redirect Lewiston’s soil shipments to a landfill in Texas to keep the cleanup project moving forward, Miller added.
Located in Van Buren Township, 25 miles (40 km) west of Detroit, Wayne Disposal is one of the few landfills in the U.S. capable of handling certain hazardous wastes.
Safety Claims Disputed as Community Opposes Hazardous Waste Site
Republic Services has repeatedly insisted that the facility not only meets but exceeds hazardous waste management safety requirements. The company called the court’s decision “overly cautious,” stating: “Responsible management and disposal of these materials is essential, and Wayne Disposal, Inc. was specifically designed and licensed to handle them safely.”
Critics, however, argue that the landfill’s proximity to numerous homes, schools, and waterways makes any potential leakage a serious danger.
Van Buren Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara said: “We have stood firmly with our community allies and spoken with one voice — we do not want this type of waste in our community.”
