Pine Tree Acres Expansion
NOTICE: Background and Support for the Amendment to the Macomb County Solid Waste Plan to Add Capacity to Pine Tree Acres
Introduction
Macomb County, through the Solid Waste Planning Committee, is amending the current Macomb County Solid Waste Management Plan (the “Plan”) to increase capacity at Pine Tree Acres landfill and extend its operational life. The amendment process is underway and is currently in the 90‑day public comment period. Information regarding the amendment can be found at:
As the amendment process progresses, below is a brief introduction to the Amendment, the process, and the critical importance of extending the operational life at Pine Tree Acres for the benefit of the entire County and all of its residents.
Pine Tree Acres Background
Pine Tree Acres (‘PTA”) is a Type II non-hazardous municipal solid waste disposal landfill. It was first permitted in 1986 and commenced operations in 1987. Pine Tree Acres is located in Lenox Township and is the County’s only active landfill. While the original site encompassed approximately 160 acres of land, PTA has grown in capacity with periodically approved Plan amendments to coincide with the growth and development of Macomb County.
The site is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (“EGLE”) and works closely with host Lenox Township to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws and requirements.
Your Macomb County Landfill
Beyond managing waste, the gas captured at PTA helps power 19,000 homes in Macomb County. Through the Solid Waste Planning Committee, Macomb County is amending the current Solid Waste Management Plan to increase capacity at PTA and extend its operational life.
What Is the Proposal?
The proposal adds critical capacity at PTA by siting approximately 236.5 acres adjacent to the existing facility, of which approximately 135 acres will be used for additional landfill disposal area. This brings the total sited acreage to about 813.5 acres, designed to extend the life of the landfill
Why Is It Necessary?
PTA keeps service local and reliable. This site is the county’s longserving, nonhazardous and only municipal landfill used by communities across the region.
• Increased disposal and transportation costs, ultimately increasing municipal operating expenses and consumer prices.
• Less predictable service, making it harder to manage logistics and budgets.
• More truck traffi c on highways and local roads, driving up fuel use and road maintenance costs.
• With added life at PTA, the county is less likely to face pressure for new landfill siting elsewhere, protecting open space and reducing land use conflict.
What Does This Look Like?
WM Pine Tree Acres Landfi ll includes just over 800 acres of land, 377 of which are lined for waste disposal.
Extending the life of the landfi ll would add approximately 135 acres to the permitted disposal area, increasing the lifespan by approximately 25 years.
What Is a Landfill Expansion?
Modern landfills play an important role in managing waste for local communities, providing a designated and controlled environment for waste. Landfill expansions are critical to extending the lifespan of a landfill, allowing a facility to continue to serve as an essential, safe disposal asset for local communities.
Expansions reduce the need to fi nd new locations for waste disposal, and expanding a landfill can help make bett er use of existing infrastructure, supporting efficiency and lower cost of disposal.
Why Is It Necessary?
PTA keeps service local and reliable. This site is the county’s longserving, nonhazardous and only municipal landfill used by communities across the region.
• Increased disposal and transportation costs, ultimately increasing municipal operating expenses and consumer prices.
• Less predictable service, making it harder to manage logistics and budgets.
• More truck traffi c on highways and local roads, driving up fuel use and road maintenance costs.
• With added life at PTA, the county is less likely to face pressure for new landfill siting elsewhere, protecting open space and reducing land use conflict.
What Does This Look Like?
WM Pine Tree Acres Landfi ll includes just over 800 acres of land, 377 of which are lined for waste disposal.
Extending the life of the landfi ll would add approximately 135 acres to the permitted disposal area, increasing the lifespan by approximately 25 years.
What Is a Landfill Expansion?
Modern landfills play an important role in managing waste for local communities, providing a designated and controlled environment for waste. Landfill expansions are critical to extending the lifespan of a landfill, allowing a facility to continue to serve as an essential, safe disposal asset for local communities.
Expansions reduce the need to fi nd new locations for waste disposal, and expanding a landfill can help make bett er use of existing infrastructure, supporting efficiency and lower cost of disposal.
Driving Sustainability in Macomb
PTA offers a recycling drop-off center onsite, free for Macomb County residents. This resource makes recycling more accessible in the county, advancing state and regional recycling goals without adding a new facility footprint.
Improved and additional recycling capabilities will also prolong the capacity and useful life of the landfill.
WM has invested approximately $55M to help drive circularity in the State of Michigan with a state-of-the-art single-stream recycling facility in the City of Detroit. This facility is expected to begin processing materials in early 2026, and there is capacity for recyclables collected from Macomb County.
With this investment, WM intends to reinvent what’s possible for Sustainability in Michigan, as recycling is perhaps the most important service WM provides to help our customers reduce emissions and environmental impact.