Under recent amendments to Part 115 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, counties are now required to develop comprehensive Materials Management Plans that meet state diversion goals for organic and recyclable materials. These regulatory changes align with the MI Healthy Climate Plan’s broader goals of reducing waste and promoting circular economy principles, and require municipalities to rethink their approach to materials management beyond traditional collection and disposal methods.

In response to these evolving requirements, and to address local needs and goals, CLC Fellow Ann Wilkinson conducted an analysis of materials management opportunities for the City of Fennville. Her work resulted in three key deliverables: a comprehensive implementation guide for municipal staff, specific ordinance recommendations to enhance local materials management services, and a Fennville-specific interlocal agreement proposal slide deck. These resources address both regulatory compliance and cost-effective service delivery, providing Michigan communities with practical tools to navigate the changing landscape of materials management while building collaborative solutions that benefit multiple jurisdictions.

• Location: Fennville, MI
• Project Team: Ann Wilkinson (Fellow, University of Michigan), Katie Beemer (Mentor, Fennville City Administrator), Kerrin O’Brien (Technical Advisor, Michigan Recycling Coalition)
• Project Presentation: Slides (PDF), Video (YouTube)
• Deliverables:
  • Lessons Learned: Transforming Municipal Materials Management (PDF)
  • Solid Waste Ordinance Overview (Excel) - Comparison of potential interlocal agreement participants’ solid waste ordinances
  • Materials Management Interlocal Agreement Proposal (PDF)