The DEQ says they'll look over the rule, while a bill tries to restrict their control
CHEBOYGAN CO., MI -- Michigan’s proposed ban on burning household waste is up in smoke.
The ban would go into effect April 1st, but the Governor hasn't signed it.
Now the Department of Environmental Quality has decided to cancel the policy and gather more public input.
7&4 first told you about this issue in this Fact Finder Report last fall.
The DEQ had wanted to prevent garbage from being burned that could release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.
The DEQ pulled it back for 2 reasons. The governor hasn't signed it and people are complaining about it.
There's also a bill introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives that would prohibit a burn barrel ban.
"Maybe once every two weeks, you get three or four bags," said Cheboygan County resident Rick Sharon, when asked how many bags of trash he burned.
Cheboygan County resident Rick Sharon says it makes sense for him to burn the old TV dinner box or used napkins.
“There's people that burn scrap tires and all that stuff, I don't want that burned," said Sharon.
Sharon recycles what he can and burns the rest. He says it saves money and the landfill from filling up.
"There’s no question we need to do something here," said DEQ Spokesperson Brad Wurfel.
The Department of Environmental Quality says burning garbage creates pollution and is a health risk. They planned to enforce a state-wide ban on burning garbage on April First. But Monday, the DEQ rescinded the proposal. The decision was made because a growing number of people were against the ban and the rule wasn't signed by the Governor. And currently, there's a bill introduced in the Michigan House that looks to ban the DEQ from enforcing a burn barrel ban and allow decisions on burning restrictions to be made at the local level. Representative Wayne Schmidt (R., 104th District) from Traverse City is a co-sponsor of House Bill 4207.
“It isn't going to add that much more pollution verses putting trucks on the road for very little trash, it seemed like the right thing to do," said Schmidt.
The DEQ says they'll look to revise and resubmit a plan over the summer. Cheboygan County Sheriff Dale Clarmont says there are several complaints every year and something needs to be done about burning garbage.
“I believe it's a needed law just to eliminate all the problems involved with burning trash," said Clarmont.
The DEQ says Michigan is one of 10 states with no regulation of what can be burned.
Wurfel says Michigan is the only Great Lakes state that doesn't restrict what can go into an outdoor burn barrel. He says the DEQ would like some restrictions.
Wurfel says fewer than a dozen people attended three public hearings last year to discuss the proposed ban.
Representative Schmidt says if there's a ban in place, people will illegally dump.
We'll bring you an update when a decision has been made.
