Adopt a city waste management policy that prioritizes reduce, reuse and recycle – including diversion of food and construction/demolition waste.
Detroiters rally for single-stream curbside recycling
IMPLEMENT RECYCLING IN EVERY DISTRICT
Enact an ordinance implementing the 2010 Charter mandate for recycling; include business & multifamily dwellings
ENCOURAGE MARKETS FOR RECOVERED MATERIALS
Implement the 2010 Green Purchasing Ordinance, which requires the City to consider environmentally friendly options in products and services Establish policies that require a percentage of recycled materials to be used in public infrastructure
Attract manufacturers that reuse or recycle tires, food waste, furniture, e-scrap, plastic, glass, and other recoverable materials.
Develop a program to locally capture the value of compostables (eg. sell fertilizer created from collected yard and food waste; establish composting program at Eastern Market)
REDUCE CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION WASTE
Require waste diversion plans for construction and demolition permits
Establish procedures for architectural salvage (skimming for valuable materials) prior to a scheduled demolition
Set aside a percentage of abandoned structures for full deconstruction
Establish demolition backfill standards that adequately prepare land for future use (eg. Use uncontaminated, permeable soils for natural drainage)
REDUCE ILLEGAL DUMPING
Promote Keep Detroit Beautiful for year-round coordination and support of public, private, and neighborhood cleanup efforts
Develop a transparent tracking system for addressing illegal dumping reports
REDUCE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE
Establish a policy that encourages reduction of waste production and/or promotes efficient and waste-free “cradle to cradle” philosophy
Limit hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities in Detroit
Hold accountable owners of brownfields
