ADRIAN — Members of Lenawee County’s Materials Management Planning Committee are raising concerns over unlicensed waste haulers operating in the county — and what to do when they refuse to comply.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, Solid Waste Coordinator Julie Maurer said the county requires licenses primarily to track waste and recycling volumes for state reporting. But she noted that several companies are bypassing the system.
Committee members asked Sheriff Troy Bevier if his office could enforce license violations. Bevier said the current ordinance gives his department that authority, but deputies are not trained to identify unlicensed haulers during routine stops.
He added that enforcement would likely follow the same path as health department violations — requiring documentation, education, and escalation.
The committee is considering updates to the ordinance to support more active enforcement and formal complaint procedures.