Wayne County Judge Issues Permanent Ban on Manhattan Project Waste Disposal
A Wayne County judge permanently blocked a landfill from accepting thousands of cubic yards of radioactive waste from Manhattan Project sites, ending a legal battle that united multiple communities.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN — A Wayne County judge has permanently blocked a local landfill from accepting thousands of cubic yards of radioactive waste from World War II atomic bomb development sites, ending a contentious legal battle that mobilized multiple southeast Michigan communities.
Judge Kevin J. Cox of the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County issued an order Wednesday granting a permanent injunction against Wayne Disposal Inc. The ruling prohibits the company from receiving radioactive waste from a storage site in Lewiston, New York, as well as any other locations contaminated by the United States’ early atomic energy program.
The decision builds on a temporary injunction Cox issued in 2025, providing definitive protection for communities that had fought against the proposed waste disposal plan.
Communities Unite Against Radioactive Waste Plan
Belleville, Romulus, Canton, Van Buren Township and the Van Buren Township fire chief filed the lawsuit against the landfill in 2024 after residents discovered plans to transport 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and 4,000 gallons of radioactive groundwater to their area for disposal.
The waste originated from sites used to develop atomic weapons during World War II’s Manhattan Project, raising significant health and safety concerns among local residents and officials.
Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Township) responded to the threat by introducing legislation to block radioactive waste dumping in Michigan. State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) also advocated for reforms to the state’s hazardous waste disposal approach, reintroducing a set of bills in 2025.
Lawmakers Celebrate Victory
Miller celebrated the court ruling as a significant win for area residents. “This is a major victory for the people of Van Buren Township, Belleville, Romulus, Sumpter, Canton and communities across Wayne County who stood up and made it clear that we are not a dumping ground for dangerous radioactive waste,” Miller said.
The representative emphasized that the positive outcome resulted from coordinated community action. “This outcome did not happen by accident,” Miller stated, according to the Michigan Advance.
The permanent injunction ensures that Wayne Disposal Inc. cannot accept Manhattan Project waste or similar radioactive materials from other atomic energy program sites, providing long-term protection for the affected communities.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about hazardous waste disposal in Michigan and the role of community advocacy in protecting public health and safety. The successful legal challenge demonstrates how local governments and residents can effectively challenge potentially dangerous industrial activities through the court system.
