HDR to develop materials management plan for Michigan county

St. Clair County, Michigan, has selected HDR to develop a countywide materials management plan that will integrate sustainable waste solutions, address current solid waste management concerns and meet Michigan’s new statewide regulatory waste management requirements.

HDR, which is headquartered in Omaha and has offices throughout the U.S. and globally, is conducting an analysis of the county’s current solid waste management practices and infrastructure to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation. Based on its findings, HDR says it will develop and propose a series of solutions aligning with county requirements and regulations anf provide support throughout implementation. 

In 2024 the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, or EGLE, initiated a new process requiring each county to prepare a materials management plan rather than the previously required solid waste management plan. This change represents a significant shift in thinking and planning, from waste and landfill management to sustainable materials management focused on resource recovery, waste reduction and recycling, HDR says.

“The shift represented by EGLE Part 115 reflects the circular economy transition we’re seeing across the U.S.,” HDR Project Manager and Business Development Leader, Michigan, Lara Zawaideh says. “From extended producer responsibility regulations in Colorado and Maryland to Minnesota’s Hennepin County targeting a 90 percent diversion rate, the approach to waste management is evolving. It’s exciting to partner with St. Clair County to redefine its approach to materials management well into the future.”