LANSING – In front of a backdrop of animal pelts, a canoe and a mural depicting a colorful autumn day in Michigan’s wilderness, Senate Republicans announced their new “Green Michigan Initiative,” which they say would protect the Great Lakes, expand recycling, reduce waste imports and encourage energy alternatives.

Sen. Patricia Birkholz, R–Saugatuck Township, is chair of the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee and a sponsor of the initiative.

Birkholz said a new program to educate people about septic systems, a review of Great Lakes dredging and its effect on water levels, and a green energy initiative are aspects of the initiative.

“Michigan has a great chance to be a leader in renewable energies,” Birkholz said.

A Democratic member of the committee, Sen. Raymond Basham of Taylor, said he looks forward to working with the Republicans, provided the initiative is really about protecting the environment, not just protecting businesses.

Robert McCann, press secretary for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), said the state faces historic lows in Lake Superior and water flow problems in the St. Clair River because of dredging, among other environmental challenges.

Donna Stine, deputy director for policy at Michigan United Conservation Clubs, said her organization supports the water provisions of the initiative.

The Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact has been approved by Minnesota and Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan have similar legislation pending.

“If the compact is passed by all of the Great Lake states, in identical form, and by Congress, then all diversions out of the Great Lakes will be prohibited,” Stine said.

Another piece of the Senate legislation would adopt a water withdrawal assessment tool developed by the Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council.

“This tool is one of the most exciting things that I have seen produced by state government,” said Stine. “It combines known information about stream flow, stream temperature and fish population into one database.”

Sen. Cameron Brown, R–Fawn River Township, said Michigan ranks last among Great Lakes states in recycling.

In 2003, Brown chaired a Republican task force that made 44 recommendations for improving Michigan’s recycling system.

He said the legislation would create a Recycling Advisory Council to develop a statewide recycling program and monitor its progress.

McCann said Michigan already does well with recycling bottles and cans, but other recycling numbers are far below its Great Lakes neighbors.

“There’s no question we need to do better,” he said. “We don’t fund programs like other states do.”

Sen. Randy Richardville, R–Frenchtown Township, said out-of-state waste is a problem.

Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin and Canada export trash to Michigan, and about one-third of all waste in Michigan landfills is from out-of-state, he said.

The legislation would create an inspection program for out-of-state waste sorting facilities and allow the state to refuse waste from places that don’t ban certain trash materials, such as computers and electronic devices.

Phil Roycraft, district supervisor of the Cadillac district of DEQ, said there isn’t a good recycling infrastructure for old computer parts in northern Michigan.

And McCann said the reason states export trash to Michigan is obvious – it’s cheap. Other states have “tipping,” or dumping, fees anywhere $3 to $7 per ton. In Michigan, it’s 21 cents per ton.

“We need to make the rates more equitable to where other states are at,” said McCann.

He said the state can take the money generated from dumping fees and put it into community recycling programs to reduce waste.

Sen. John Pappageorge, R–Troy, said the Senate will look at ways to fund the new ideas, but options like a “penny tax” on grocery bags should not be used.