Solid waste bill grabs attention of Environment Committee

A bill that would severely limit North Carolina counties’ ability to own and operate a landfill was one of several reviewed by the NCACC Environment Steering Committee on March 29.

S1492, the Solid Waste Management Act of 2007, has the potential to turn North Carolina into a net exporter of waste. According to Paul Meyer, assistant general counsel for the Association and the staff liaison to the committee, the bill represents a major shift in solid waste policy in the state in that it is not prompted by any changes to federal law.

Among many changes, the bill increases the tipping fee to $2 per ton, requires liners for construction and demolition landfills and requires leche collection systems. The bill has a companion in the House, H1233.

Legislation that would provide a fund to aid counties in the cleanup of mobile homes has been introduced in the House (H1134) and the Senate (S1255). Each bill establishes a fee on the sale of new and used manufactured homes, with money going into a statewide cleanup fund. Counties that choose to run a cleanup program would receive money from the fund for each home that is properly disposed of.

Meyer reported the Association is also monitoring three bills – S603, S842 and H859 – that would extend the sunset on nutrient offset payments until September 2008, unless the General Assembly comes up with an accurate fee amount.

For updates on these and other bills, visit www.ncacc.org/legislation/about.html.