American Waste creates 40 new jobs for Garfield Twp.

Some 40 new jobs and millions of dollars in investment are on the horizon for Grand Traverse County's Garfield Township following a deal between regional waste hauler American Waste and owners of the vacant property that housed the shuttered Tower Automotive LLC.

The Grand Traverse County Solid Waste Facility Sitting Committee recently approved American Waste's proposed plans for raw materials manufacturing for recycling waste into energy fuel-burning products, marking another step forward in the hauler's plan to begin operations by the end of summer, says Tino Breithaupt, senior vice president for economic development for the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.

American Waste's plans call for $1 million in upgrades to the 211,000-square-foot building and $10 million in new machinery and equipment. The facility will sort and recycle materials, then convert waste to energy.

The recent committee approval is part of a "100-day due diligence" process, Breithaupt says. American Waste officials also have had several meetings with the local board of public works. Next up: gaining approval from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

"We're very hopeful at the end of this month we'll have state approval," says Breithaupt, who has been involved in project discussions with American Waste officials over the past nine months and says the renewable energy operations will benefit not only regional workers but also the local tax rolls.

"For an opportunity to come along like this, it's fantastic," Breithaupt says. "It's a really big opportunity for our community."

Tower Automotive closed in 2008, leaving hundreds of local workers without jobs.

Writer: Heather Johnson Durocher
Source: Tino Breithaupt