A new report suggests that Michigan is dumping more than half a billion dollars worth of materials each year in its landfills.

These landfills, like the one near US-12 west of Niles, has food, paper and plastic from municipal waste that has a value of $500 to $676 million.

Bridge Michigan reports that the state is expected dispose of between $6.2 and $8.3 billion in marketable material in the next ten years. The study by Grand Valley State University says the waste could create an economic impact of up to $825 million per year, and create up to 4,500 new jobs, if it were to be recycled.