Reps. Kooiman, Hummel, Hager, Caswell, Farhat, Voorhees, Steil, Huizenga, Vander Veen, Stahl, Taub, Emmons, Shackleton, Shaffer, Casperson, Wenke, Amos, Ehardt, Hoogendyk, Meyer, Woronchak, Stakoe, Pumford, DeRoche, Moolenaar, Rocca, Pastor, Nofs, Pappageorge, Acciavatti, Walker, Caul, Newell, Sheen, Palsrok, Ward, Rick Johnson, Accavitti, Adamini, Brandenburg, Brown, DeRossett, Gieleghem, Gillard, LaSata, Lipsey, Murphy, Paletko, Richardville, Sak, Shulman, Spade, Stallworth, Stewart and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 76.

            A resolution to urge the Department of Natural Resources to reconsider and reverse its recent decision to remove trash barrels from many public use areas of state parks and beaches.

            Whereas, The Department of Natural Resources has initiated a Carry In, Carry Out Trash Free Parks program, which asks users of more than 35 state parks and beaches to remove their own refuse.  As part of this initiative, the department is removing trash barrels and encouraging visitors to be responsible for hauling their trash out of the parks and recreation areas when they return home; and

            Whereas, While the goals of the Carry In, Carry Out program, encouraging responsible use of the parks and cutting costs, hold merit, the practical impact of this move is not in the state's best interest.  Citizens have expressed their concerns about the loss of convenience and the potential for ruining the beauty of the state's parklands.  The increased litter that will result from the Carry In, Carry Out program could end up being very costly to the state's image and tourism industry; and

            Whereas, The reaction generated by the decision to remove trash barrels from parks and recreation areas provides a clear indication of the need for a reversal of this policy.  Michigan's people and visitors value our outdoors far too much to jeopardize these resources with an impractical approach to trash removal; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Department of Natural Resources to reconsider and reverse its recent decision to remove trash barrels from many public use areas of state parks and beaches; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Governor Granholm, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Natural Resources Commission.