Tax in Sheep’s Clothing: Legitimate trash fee or tax in disguise? That question lies at the heart of a case being heard by the Michigan Supreme Court this week that could have important implications as cash-strapped governments seek ways to create new revenue streams to help them bridge budget deficits.

The Detroit News reports that oral arguments began this week before the state’s high court in a case that involves a fee charged by the city of Detroit to inspect how garbage is collected from businesses that don’t use the city’s trash removal services:

"The court will decide whether the $100 property owners pay for solid waste inspections annually is a fee or a tax. If it's a tax, the charge is unconstitutional, because new taxes must be approved by a public vote. "

The court is expected to rule on the case before the end of July, when its current term ends.

Recyclin’ U.S.A.: Here’s an interesting new slant on closing the recycling loop [and thanks to my colleague, Don Loepp of Plastics News, for digging this item up]. Discovery Communications’ Treehugger blog reports that a Rhode Island surfboard designer, Kevin Cunningham, has launched a project to make surfboards from plastic marine debris:

"Cunningham's idea is to first produce a limited series of boards made from reclaimed debris that will be featured in galleries around the country, to be followed by a line of 100 boards that will be sold as custom orders."

"Let's go recyclin' now / Everybody's learnin' how / Come on and safari with me ..."

Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste & Recycling News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.