Montrose Twp residents concerned about landfill proposal

MONTROSE TWP., Mich. (WNEM) - Many people living in Montrose Township are expressing concerns over a proposed landfill.

Genesee County has three landfills, one of which is in Montrose Township, and many residents made it loud and clear they don’t want another.

“Been back here for 15 years. Already went through two osmosis things for my water. And now you want to do this a half a mile from house? No!” one resident said.

Not now and not ever. Emotions were high Thursday night at what many thought was supposed to be a public hearing to discuss a proposed landfill. Instead, residents were surprised to walk into an open house presentation.

“They’re trying to shove this right down our throat for no good reason. We don’t need it. We already have three other landfills here in the area,” resident Rick Reed said.

One in Grand Blanc, one in Davison, and one in Montrose Township. The proposed landfill would encompass an 80-acre site north of Farrand Road and west of Marshall Road. Planning committee members said the site would be used only as a last resort.

“The main purpose of this plan is to ensure that there is disposal capacity for garbage in Genesee County,” Cody Roblyer, the lead planner for the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission, said.

The plan also aims to improve recycling procedures.

“Some other aspects of it are also dealing with what’s called waste diversion. So, that’s like recycling. We want to see how we can improve recycling or even composting in the county,” Robyler said.

Residents said they aren’t buying that.

“We don’t want to hear that, we don’t care. You’re going to build it either way. I don’t care,” one resident said.

“I live on a river and what’s that doing for the river? What’s it doing for the wildlife? What’s it doing for the environment?” Reed asked.

People at that meeting said there’s been no communication. They said they found out about the proposal two days ago, but the plan has been in the works for two years.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held on June 13.