Massachusetts Senate passes solid waste recycling bill

“This bill encourages the continued health and sustainability of Massachusetts,” the bill’s sponsor, Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pancheco, told the newspaper. “Recycling is more important than it has even been. We must be mindful of our actions. By conserving our resources and putting them back to productive use, we avoid unnecessary pollution, save money and protect our environment. This legislation makes sense for us all.”

 

S.454 will require the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish performance standards for municipal solid waste reduction by July 1, 2017, and to reduce solid waste per capita to 600 pounds by July 1, 2018, and to 450 pounds by July 1, 2022. The DEP will develop a Municipal Solid Waste Standards Action Plan by Dec. 1, 2017. 

 

“The Environmental League of Massachusetts applauds Sen. Pancheco for his leadership to reduce waste and increase recycling in the commonwealth,” Erica Mattison, legislative director of the Boston-based Environmental League of Massachusetts, told the paper. “This bill provides multiple benefits, such as relieving pressure to expand landfills and incinerators, conserving natural resources, reducing emissions and saving municipalities money. To fulfill the state's Solid Waste Master Plan, it is necessary for best practices already in place in many of our communities to become more commonplace."

 

Under the standards, cities and towns will file annual reports of solid waste disposal to the DEP. The DEP also will issue per-capita solid waste disposal statistics for all solid waste programs. 

 

The bill is currently under consideration by the state's House of Representatives.