WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill allowing U.S. states to ban garbage shipments from Canada and other states passed a House of Representatives subcommittee recently.

The bill could potentially put an end to the 200 truckloads of garbage currently shipped to Michigan from Ontario every day. It is being sponsored by U.S. Representative Paul Gillmor, who is chairman of the House energy and commerce subcommittee on environment and hazardous materials.

The bill was passed by a vote of 12 to 4.

“The current system does nothing to discourage states…who just plain refuse to address their reliance on this form of welfare,” Gillmor said.

“Ontario sends every dirty diaper, every bottle, every broken hockey stick to Michigan,” said Representative Mike Rogers, who supported banning Canadian trash. “Michigan cities should be able to decide if they want to be the receptacle of Canadian trash.”