In Washington and around the country on Saturday, scientists and concerned citizens will march to defend science and champion its role at the heart of sound public policy.

As I entered the school last week I noticed a quiet I had never associated with this building. The usually boisterous students moved almost silently from one class to another. I missed the normal yelling and jostling of my young people at Denby High School. A student in the hallway asked me, "Ms. Sandra, do you know they are going to close our school?"

Good food, good conversation and a good turnout -- despite an overnight snowstorm -- made the Michigan Environmental Council's legislative breakfast on Tuesday perhaps our best yet.

Editor's note: This post is by Kerrin O'Brien, executive director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition, an MEC member group.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality last week delayed its expected decision on a permit for the Back Forty Project, an open-pit gold, zinc and copper mine proposed for the western Upper Peninsula. Back in September, the agency indicated in a preliminary decision its intent to approve the request from Aquila Resources, opening a final window for the public to weigh in before the final decision set for Dec. 1. The deadline for that final decision has now been pushed back to Dec. 29.

Environmentalists have never liked plastic water bottles much, but they became indispensable for Flint families during the city's water crisis.

The Legislature returned to Lansing last week after a summer recess. While there are just 18 House and 20 Senate session days remaining in 2016, our lawmakers have many opportunities this fall to make Michigan a cleaner, safer and more sustainable state.

Michigan's landfill-first approach to waste management is getting a much-needed overhaul, and MEC is helping to lead the charge.

We are happy to announce that MEC has hired Joe Bower to expand our fundraising efforts as our new Director of Development. Joe's efforts will be focused on expanding MEC revenues by strengthening our relations with individual and corporate donors.

What began three years ago in the classrooms of Detroit's Denby High School-and the imaginations of its students-took a major step toward becoming reality this week.