Please wait on this bill. Where we live, every time we hear the word 'tax' we're all ready to pack our bags and leave this state--I'm not kidding. Taking more money from anyone in this state hurts us all. Get a reality check and work on the utility companies to lower our energy bills, that is, if any of you reps aren't getting campaign contributions from them and by the looks of it I doubt it!
That has got to be one of the worst ideas right now, that any of you reps take even one penny from those utility companies that are a big part of our states problem with locating companies to a state that can not compete with these rediculous utility bills, not to mention a state gov't that over taxes.
I can assure you that Michigan's landfills are not keeping business out of our state. Please let's put all our focus on helping our communities help themselves. And by the way, when you tax the landfills, us poor people in the municipalities pay for your greed with a tax increase in our tax bills. Should I ask MacDonald's to put my hamburger in my hand without a carton?
What you really need to go after is not consumers. You need to go after MSU. They teach packaging courses. You need to convince these Professors to teach how to produce bio-degradeable packaging and pass a bill that says manufacturers must use, ...fill in the blank if they want to sell in Michigan. Something like that would take time, because we don't need to hurt business. I've checked into this idea and the only reason that they don't do it now is because it hasn't been mandated, and a little thing called money.
Guess what? That doesn't tax the Michigainders. However, it could make products cost more and hurt manufacturers. Remember, always try to get close to the source and it's not the tax paying consumers deciding how our tofu is wrapped. Believe me I've thought about this problem and it is packaging. That's your true problem-- not landfills.
Sorry I rambled. It's late, I'm tired, and I feel very passionate about our State.