Wayne County Radioactive Waste Trial Ends with Warning Over Future Shipments

Lawyers argue over whether shipments of Manhattan Project-era waste to a Wayne County landfill can continue.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Lawyers presented closing arguments in a bench trial to determine if shipments of radioactive waste to a Wayne County landfill can continue. Attorneys for Wayne County and nearby communities warned that the landfill could receive waste from many more sites, posing a public health risk, while the landfill's attorneys said such fears are unsubstantiated.

Why it matters

The outcome of this trial could affect residents who live near the hazardous waste facility, as it will determine whether shipments of Manhattan Project-era radioactive waste to the Wayne Disposal landfill can resume. The lawsuit is primarily a nuisance case, with concerns that it is unreasonable to dispose of so much elevated radiation waste in a highly populated area.

The details

The legal battle over the shipments began in 2024 after it was revealed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned to transport elevated radiation waste from the Niagara Falls Storage Site in Lewiston, New York to the Wayne Disposal landfill in Van Buren Township. Belleville, Van Buren Township, Canton Township, Romulus, and the Van Buren Township fire chief filed suit in September 2024 to stop the shipments, and Wayne County intervened in the case. Landfill owner Republic Services owns other disposal sites in states like Texas and Idaho where waste could be shipped, but attorneys argued it is cheaper to truck materials to Wayne Disposal.

  • The legal battle over the shipments began in 2024.
  • The lawsuit was filed in September 2024.
  • The trial's closing arguments were presented on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Judge Kevin Cox set a March 10, 2026 deadline for attorneys to submit their findings of fact and conclusions of law.

The players

Wayne County

A county in Michigan that intervened in the lawsuit to stop radioactive waste shipments to the Wayne Disposal landfill.

Wayne Disposal

A landfill in Van Buren Township, Michigan that is owned by Republic Services and has been the subject of a lawsuit over receiving radioactive waste shipments.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

A federal agency that planned to transport elevated radiation waste from the Niagara Falls Storage Site to the Wayne Disposal landfill.

Belleville, Van Buren Township, Canton Township, Romulus, and the Van Buren Township fire chief

Plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit in 2024 to stop the radioactive waste shipments to the Wayne Disposal landfill.

Judge Kevin Cox

The Wayne County Circuit Court judge presiding over the bench trial.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.