By JIM ANDERSON

The Daily News

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County expects to update its solid waste management plan with the help of a regional agency that will receive state grant funds, part of a legislative package signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in December to overhaul Michigan’s recycling policies.

Under the state’s new solid waste statute, each county will adopt a materials management plan to replace its solid waste plan. Regional collaboration is encouraged when developing landfills, recycling and composting facilities.

The Escanaba-based Central Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission, or CUPPAD, has offered to provide joint planning in Dickinson, Delta, Alger, Marquette, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties.

“With the recent expansion of the Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority’s recycling facility, as well as the lack of ongoing recycling and composting activities available in the region, CUPPAD has identified that a multi-county planning process may provide the greatest opportunity to increase recycling and composting access and activities across the six-county area,” said Ryan Carrig, CUPPAD community planner, in a proposal sent to the counties.

Dickinson County Board on Monday reviewed the compensation scale and favored pursuing an agreement. Total cost for a multi-county materials management plan would be $13,000 per county per year for the first three years.

The funds would be paid to CUPPAD upon the county’s receipt of planning grant funding dispersed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. “Under this agreement, each county will realize significant cost and capacity savings, and have additional grant money to expand materials management activities,” Carrig said.

Curbside recycling and/or convenient drop-off sites are among the state’s waste management goals.

The new statute sets a goal to reach a 30% recycling rate in Michigan by 2029 and 45% thereafter. The current rate is 21%, according to EGLE.

In other action Monday, the county board:

¯ Allocated $1,500 to aid Hamilton Lakes milfoil control. The 2023 budget provided that level of funding for each of the four associations that represent lakefront property owners in the county. The cost to the Hamilton Lakes Lake Board for the treatment this year was $16,695.

¯ Approved minutes from an Aug. 24 special meeting at which a proposal from CR Meyer of Escanaba was accepted to repair the spillway at the Sturgeon River’s Hardwood Impoundment at a cost of $22,950.

¯ Approved a $1,000 annual dues payment to the Escanaba-based Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress, or UPCAP. Dues from the region’s 15 counties are population-based and have remain unchanged since 1974. They are mainly used to match state and federal grants or to reimburse board members’ travel to meetings.