KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A proposed recycling facility that would be built in Kalamazoo Township is one step closer to completion, thanks to approval of amendments by the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night.
Mulder’s Landscape Supplies, Inc. and Waste Not Recycling, LLC are planning to build a construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling center and transfer station on the corner of Ravine Road and Nichols Road.
The two amendments were in regards to the Kalamazoo County solid waste management plan, which was drafted more than 20 years ago when the C&D recycling industry was a much smaller business activity.
While the amendments would allow for the facility to be built, they would still need to be forwarded to all municipalities in the County for consideration, as well as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), before further action could be taken.
If 67% percent of the municipalities approve the amendments, they would be sent to EGLE for review.
During the first public comment period, many residents from that area called in to voice their disagreement with the proposed site, naming a variety of concerns.
“I 100 percent oppose it,” one caller said. “There is already way too much truck traffic on Nichols Road with the increase in the speed from 35 to 45, my concern is all for safety of pedestrians and cyclists.”
Other concerns stated included potential difficulties with parking, noise and environmental issues.
However, there were other callers who spoke favorably on the proposed amendment, including Kalamazoo Township Trustee Steve Leuty.
“A large portion of the landfill waste comes from construction and demolition materials,” Leuty said. “A study in 1998 for Kalamazoo County’s Council of Government at that time estimated our county generated 80 tons of construction and demolition waste per day.”
He said many of the materials from these sites are recyclable, including corrugated boxes, metals, vinyl siding and more.
“Amendment 1 of the solid waste plan will strengthen the private sectors ability to address our community needs by enabling the proposed Waste Not C&D recycling center to build an operate a transfer station and processing facility at 2206 Nichols, which was a former Brownfield site that threatened the wetland and environment much more than this proposal,” Leuty said.
During discussion of the amendments, the history of the site was mentioned by some Commissioners, such as Commissioner Zach Bauer.
“This is not a situation where someone had sold their farm to a recycling agency, and the next day, someone’s going to put up a recycling site,” Bauer said. “This was a dump, this was not like something that you wanted to live next to. Someone came in, cleaned it up and they’re putting a facility in to make it better.”
There was a proposal to postpone the motion to approve the items to the next meeting, but this was voted down by the majority of Commissioners.
Ultimately, both amendments to the waste management plan were approved by the board. Both are now expected to be sent to all municipalities in the County for further consideration.
As previously written, if 67% percent of the municipalities approve them, they will then be sent to EGLE for review.
Should they be approved, the building plan will then enter its next phase.
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