LANDFILLS

Senate Bill 747 as passed by the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Jud Gilbert, II

House Committee:  Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment

Senate Committee:  Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

Complete to 11-2-05

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 747 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 10-27-05

Part 115 (Solid Waste Management) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act generally prohibits the disposal of liquid waste into landfills.  Senate Bill 747 would amend this provision to prohibit bulk or noncontainerized liquid waste or waste that contains free liquids, unless the waste is one of the following:  (1) household waste other than septage waste; (2) leachate or gas condensate approved for recirculation; or (3) septage waste or other liquids approved for addition in a research, development, and demonstration project (RDDP). 

In addition, the bill would prohibit a person from knowingly delivering or disposing of more than a de minimis amount of yard clippings into a municipal solid waste incinerator, unless the clippings are diseased or infested.  The bill would require notification of this prohibition to be posted on the Department of Environmental Quality's website and provided to municipal solid waste customers.  [The act currently prohibits a person from knowingly delivering or disposing of more than a de minimis amount of yard clippings into a landfill.]

The bill would also delete a provision that permits the disposal of green glass beverage containers into landfills through June 1, 2007, and establishes a task force to address the problems of recycling green glass containers.  The bill is tie-barred to House Bills 5148 and 5149.  (See additional information in Background Information.)

MCL 324.11514

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or local governmental units.  Any added administrative costs can be absorbed within existing appropriations. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The bill is tie-barred to House Bills 5148 and 5149, which are now enrolled and awaiting the Governor's signature.  House Bill 5148 would amend Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to provide for the establishment of research, development, and demonstration projects and allow the DEQ to authorize the addition of septage waste or other liquids into an RDDP landfill.  (This essentially allows for the creation of "bioreactor landfills.")  House Bill 5149 would amend Part 117 (Septage Waste Servicers) of the NREPA to include in the definition of "receiving facility" a structure that is designed to receive septage waste at an RDDP.  

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.