Sustainability

Canton strives to provide a sustainable, thriving and equitable community that benefits from and supports clean energy; preserves and responsibly uses the earth's resources; and cares for ecosystems.

In 2022, Canton was recognized by the statewide Michigan Green Communities program for environmental leadership. Canton achieved gold status for exemplary action in multiple categories, including: planning, economic development, land use, climate resilience, climate adaptation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, materials management (AKA recycling, composting, waste diversion), water conservation and protection, clean mobility, and community engagement.

The Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program is open to all local governments in Michigan, at no cost. MGC is a sustainability networking, benchmarking, and technical assistance program. It guides and supports communities in adapting to a changing climate, protecting infrastructure, improving the quality of life for residents, and creating a more environmentally and economically sustainable future for the state of Michigan.

The following is a list of actions Canton is working on to benchmark actives that create a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for residents, visitors and businesses.


  1. Sustainability Goals
  2. Waste and Recycling
  3. Energy Efficiency

Planning Services is in the process of updating Canton’s Comprehensive Master Plan. The Master Plan is a long-range policy document that guides the community for the next 10 – 20 years on a variety of topics, such as land use, development, housing and neighborhoods, infrastructure, transportation and corridors, environmental preservation, and more.

The update is expected to take 12 – 18 months and will include a robust public engagement strategy to gather feedback from Canton residents, business owners, property owners, and other community stakeholders.

The project will kick off this spring with all updates and information posted here. You may also email questions and comments to masterplan@cantonmi.gov 

For more information on the update as well as dates for public input session visit www.canton-mi.org/masterplan. 


  1.  Mobility
  2. Land Use Preservation
  3. Water Quality