Central Michigan University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Stephen Lawrence, Associate Vice President of FM (former), and Tom Rohrer, Director of GLISS, participate in the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance (GLBRA); their purpose is described below: There’s only one way to create a strong regional economy: regional cooperation and collaboration. It was under this premise that the Bay Area, Midland Area and Saginaw County Chambers of Commerce, along with Bay Future, Midland Tomorrow and Saginaw Future Inc., formed a regional alliance called VISION TRI-COUNTY, now the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance with the addition of Isabella County which brought in Central Michigan University. The members of the Alliance have worked together to build on the regional strengths critical to both individual and collective futures. The Alliance members are fully committed to this collaborative effort, which capitalizes on the region's many amenities that allow us to build a dynamic, unique, and prosperous future. Protection of Bay area resources, a recognition of the value of tourism and the value of a sustainable economy has resulted in institutions of higher learning participating in the sustainability committee of this group.

CMU is a part of the Michigan Recycling Coalition, which engages in public policy on a regional and state level. The MRC's agenda is described below: The Michigan Recycling Coalition employs the expertise of its Board of Directors and members to take positions on policy issues important to the growth and development of the recycling industry in Michigan. Open Burning "Open burning" refers to the act of burning waste materials in a container where smoke is able to be released into the air without passing through a filtering system, like a chimney, first. The chemicals and substances that are released into the air during this process are often dangerous and toxic. Improper burning poses a fire hazard and can cause health problems. The MRC takes a stand against open burning. More information about open burning is available on the Michigan DEQ website. Yard Waste Ban Exemptions Michigan law rightly bans disposal of yard debris in Michigan landfills. The Michigan Recycling Coalition is fully supportive of this policy. Through the Policy Resolution the MRC formally opposes exemptions to Michigan's Yard Waste Ban that seek to increase the disposal of organic yard debris in landfills. The MRC Policy Statement identifies the many reasons yard debris does not belong in Michigan landfills. Electronics Recovery & Recycling As our use and dependence upon electronic communication tools increases, so does the need to capture those resources for recycling. In 2008, the Michigan legislature passed a law that requires manufacturers and distributers to provide free, convenient recycling opportunities for their products. Michigan's Electronic Waste Tackback Program has jump-started electronic recovery but many electronics remain stored in basements and sent to the landfill. The Michigan Recycling Coalition, through member and stakeholder dialogue, developed a set of recommendations, aimed at improving the program and ultimately collecting more end-of-life electronics for reuse and recycling. Anti-Scavenging As recycled commodities become more valuable in the marketplace the scavenging of those materials also increases. Recycling service providers need protection from theft and the Michigan Recycling Coalition developed this policy statement to bring attention and action to the issue. Product Stewardship The growing product stewardship movement in the United States seeks to ensure that those who design, manufacture, sell, and use consumer products take responsibility for reducing negative impacts to the economy, environment, public health, and worker safety. These impacts can occur throughout the lifecycle of a product and its packaging, and are associated with energy and materials consumption; waste generation; toxic substances; greenhouse gases; and other air and water emissions. In a product stewardship approach, manufacturers that design products and specify packaging have the greatest ability, and therefore greatest responsibility, to reduce these impacts by attempting to incorporate the full lifecycle costs into the cost of doing business. The MRC Board of Directors passed a resolution in support of this movement.