State Legislative/Regulatory Developments: National Waste and Recycling Association Report

The National Waste & Recycling Association (“NWRA”) issued a May 2nd news release describing a number of state legislative and regulatory issues addressed by NWRA to date in this calendar year.

The NWRA describes its mission as the promotion and protection of the:

. . . waste and recycling industry through the strategic application of award-winning, results-driven advocacy; our values include honesty, transparency and accountability; and our vision is to become the most decorated trade association in America.

The NWRA news release describes legislative and regulatory activities by both the Association and its various state members.

Issues highlighted by the NWRA’s new release include:

• Prevention of Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) programs from being implemented in the New York budget
• Defeating EPR legislation in Connecticut
• Clarification of existing landfill approval regulations in Alabama

Additional legislative/regulatory issue achievements cited by NWRA include:

• Alabama – 3 wins (House Bill 304 regarding host government approval of applications and modifications, ADEM regulatory changes)
• Carolinas – 3 wins (South Carolina – senate budget plan; North Carolina – landfill rule review, elevated solid waste workers to essential workers)
• Colorado – 2 wins (PFAS, amendments to EPR)
• Connecticut – 2 wins (defeated EPR this session, getting DEEP to move on freedom of information request)
• Florida – 8 wins (PFAS, elections, waste pick-up definitions, etc.)
• Georgia – 3 wins (Solid Waste Trust Fund language,SB 516 – EPD to contracts, solid waste rules definitions)
• Illinois – 3 wins (exemption for landfill gas/PFAS incineration ban, defeated poorly drafted Environmental Justice bill, C&D documentation responsibility)
• Indiana – 2 wins (RFP for municipal contracts expanded, supported agency on troublesome solid waste issues bill)
• Kentucky – 2 wins (taxes and new government establishment)
• Massachusetts – 1 win (anaerobic digestion bill getting traction, public hearings)
• Minnesota – 2 wins (protecting private sector facilities through bonding for new infrastructure, Landfill ban discouraged/defeated)
• Missouri – 1 win (St. Louis County ordinance limiting pickup times defeated by veto)
• New Jersey – 2 wins (minimum content law, keeping EPR from passing)
• New York City – 1 win (extension of commercial waste zone implementation deadline)
• New York State – 3 wins (keeping EPR out of budget, keeping bottle bill from passing, extending CLCPA public comment period)
• Ohio – 1 win (distracted driving)
• Oklahoma – 4 wins (PFAS, electric vehicles, gross weight exemption, SB617, Motor vehicles – consolidation of powers, water quality standards, HB 3964 vehicle theft)
• Texas – 2 wins (trucking tort reform, elections legislation)
• Wisconsin – 1 win (Personal Property Tax Study Committee)

A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.