Michigan senators want to tack on inspection fees to Canadian trash

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. senators want Canadian companies hauling garbage to Michigan to fork over up to $45 million in new dumping fees.

According to Associate Press, Democratic senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin from Michigan passed a budget plan that could allow authorities to charge hefty inspection fees to Canadian companies transporting more than 400 truckloads of trash a day across the border.

State legislators also passed a bill earlier this month that would ban Canadian trash, provided Congress approves the measure.

Some officials say it would be extremely difficult for the federal government to greenlight such a resolution since restricting waste from Canada may conflict with NAFTA rules as well as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Toronto alone sends over 100 truckloads of trash a day to Michigan landfills — down from about 145 a few years ago.

Verspeeten Cartage Ingersoll, Ont. recently replaced Wilson Logistics as Toronto’s trash hauler to Michigan.

Wilson was seeking a way out of its 20-year contract with the city after becoming burdened with escalating costs like fuel, increased border security, and new hours-of-service rules.

— with files from Associated Press