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CASS COUNTY — Applications are now being accepted for all appointments to the new Southwest Michigan Materials Management Planning Committee. The MMPC replaces all Solid Waste Planning Committees in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties and is focused on the creation and implementation of a Multi-County Materials Management Plan. Selected members will serve a five-year commitment and be responsible for the creation of bylaws and positions of the committee. All selected members will need final approval by all three County Board of Commissioners before being appointed.

Key responsibilities of the MMPC include directing the Designated Planning Agency in plan preparation, reviewing and approving the DPA’s work program, identifying local materials management policies and priorities, coordinating plan preparation, advising counties and municipalities on the plan, and ensuring compliance with plan requirements and public participation standards.

The Southwest Michigan MMPC will be comprised of 16 professionals experienced in the field of materials management, public administration, engineering, and environmental resources.

Qualified individuals will meet at least one of the following criteria:

• A representative of a solid waste disposal facility operator that provides service in the planning area.
• A representative of a hauler that provides service in the planning area.
• A representative of a materials recovery facility operator that provides service in the planning area.
• A representative of a composting facility or anaerobic digester operator that provides service in the planning area.
• A representative of a waste diversion, reuse, or reduction facility operator that provides service in the planning area.
• A representative of an environmental interest group that has members residing in the planning area.
• An elected official of the county.
• An elected official of a township in the planning area.
• An elected official of a city or village in the planning area.
• A representative of a business that generates a managed material in the planning area.
• A representative of the regional planning agency whose territory includes the planning area
• A representative from a business that generates managed materials within the planning area.

The Southwest Michigan MMPC will meet every other Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. beginning August 21, 2024, at the Pokagon Band Community Center in Dowagiac. The frequency of meetings may be reduced in 2025 depending on the State of Michigan requirements for the Materials Management Planning Process. Locations will alternate every year depending on which County the Chair of the Committee represents. Members are expected to attend all meetings. Below is a schedule of the meetings.

2024 Materials Management Planning Committee Meetings

• August 21: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• September 4: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• September 18: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• October 2: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• October 16: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• October 30: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• November 13: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• November 27: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• December 11: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.  

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on July 1, 2024. The application can be found at https://tinyurl.com/SWMcommittee or email schragb@swmpc.org for a PDF version.

For questions or concerns, please contact Bekah Schrag at the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission at 269-925-1137×1521 or schragb@swmpc.org

Please note: All materials submitted to Southwest Michigan Planning Commission are subject to the public records law of the state of Michigan.