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Mlive File Photo. Arbor Hills Landfill, 10690 Six Mile Road in Salem Township.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com<\/p>\nMlive File Photo. Arbor Hills Landfill, 10690 Six Mile Road in Salem Township.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com<\/p>\n
SALEM TWP., MI \u2014 Irked residents and some local and state officials are rallying against a proposed expansion of the Arbor Hills landfill.<\/p>\n
Around 200 people gathered at Northville High School Monday, Jan. 12 for a community meeting organized by The Conservancy Initiative<\/a>, a grassroots nonprofit organization opposed to the landfill at 10690 Six Mile Road in Salem Township.<\/p>\n Odors coming from the landfill have led to hundreds of complaints<\/a> to state environmental officials each year. The landfill has also faced state environmental violations<\/a>.<\/p>\n Odors regularly bother Kumar Narayanan and Sudha Kumar, who can see the landfill from their home in Northville Township.<\/p>\n \u201cIt comes and goes. It depends on the time of day sometimes,\u201d Narayanan said. \u201cEspecially in spring through summertime, it\u2019s unpleasant. You never know if it\u2019s safe to walk outside with all the odors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s annoying to have the smell when you come out of the house. You can feel the stink,\u201d Kumar said.<\/p>\n The smell makes them worried about other issues that they cannot observe, like chemicals in the air and water. They are also bothered by garbage hauler traffic and load banging sounds coming from the landfill.<\/p>\n As the landfill nears the end of its capacity in the next few years, landfill operator Green For Life, known as GFL, is working on a plan to expand. The landfill would expand to about 90 acres the company owns north of the existing site. That land, the site of a compost facility, is now partly vacant.<\/p>\n While GFL has not yet submitted a proposal to state environmental regulators, the company in late 2024 made known its long-discussed plan to expand the landfill, as it reaches the end of its capacity. <\/p>\n The landfill has been operated by different companies for more than 60 years. Years ago, previous owner Advanced Disposal scrapped plans to expand.<\/p>\n The landfill has a history of complaints and violations, including for PFAS contamination and odor complaints, erosion and sediment discharge. But since taking it over, GFL has invested in some improvements.<\/p>\n Dave Seegert, district manager for GFL Environmental, and other GFL representatives did not respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n Seegert recently told the Detroit Free Press<\/a> that the landfill expansion is in the early stages of planning and design.<\/p>\n He also pointed out that the landfill also recycles materials and offers a free household hazardous waste drop-off program and a composting facility, according to the report. Salem Township also receives millions a year in revenue from renewable natural landfill gas capture and a lease payment.<\/p>\n The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy officials would have the final say on whether to permit a new landfill operation on the land to the north.<\/p>\n But Washtenaw County officials will play a critical role in the decision. The landfill wouldn\u2019t be allowed to expand unless Washtenaw County\u2019s plan for materials management includes the expansion. A county committee, formed by state mandate, is working on recommendations. Ultimately, the county Board of Commissioners will vote on whether to approve that plan. <\/p>\n Many people who spoke at the community meeting were frustrated that Northville Township \u2014 located in Wayne County and directly downwind \u2014 does not get a say in whether the landfill should expand and keep operating. <\/p>\n \u201cThe process is very unfair, because the landfill is in Washtenaw County,\u201d David Drinan, The Conservancy Initiative\u2019s vice president, said. <\/p>\n \u201cSalem Township reaps all the benefits and Northville Township bears the burden,\u201d Drinan said. <\/p>\n Aside from odors blowing west to east, hundreds of trucks a day traverse the township, sometimes dropping litter, he said. Water that gets into the landfill flows through Northville Township\u2019s sewer system on its way to a wastewater treatment plant in Ypsilanti.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s had a terrible compliance record,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"Arbor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/JE3NMVJPE5EKNPP3QWJSSJC75U.jpeg\")
Residents opposed to the proposed expansion of the Arbor Hills landfill in Salem Township gather at a community meeting at Northville High School on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.Jen Eberbach\/MLive<\/p>\n
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Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull opposes the proposed expansion of the Arbor Hills landfill in Salem Township at a community meeting at Northville High School on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.Jen Eberbach\/MLive<\/p>\n