Environment Committee advances several bills — solid‑waste fees, tire stewardship, balloons study and siting‑council change among actions

The Environment Committee moved a slate of bills out of committee on Friday, Feb. 28, advancing measures on solid‑waste funding, tire stewardship and producer‑responsibility programs and asking DEEP to study uses of helium in lighter‑than‑air balloons. The committee also considered changes to the Connecticut Siting Council membership and sent that bill forward after extended debate.

The most substantive votes and actions:

HB 6917 — Management of solid waste: The committee voted to send House Bill 6917, as substitute language LCO 5575, to the Appropriations Committee. Sponsors said the substitute aligns the bill timeline with DEEP’s pending needs‑assessment work and redirects an existing $1.50 per‑ton assessment from the general fund into a newly designated Sustainable Materials Management Fund to support regional planning, grants, and capital needs. Committee members raised concerns about effects on waste‑to‑energy facilities and whether the redirected dollars would reduce operators’ capital for equipment upgrades; sponsors said no new fee was created and that penalty provisions in current statute remain. The motion to JFS to Appropriations was moved by Representative Baumgartner and seconded by Senator Lopes; roll call was completed and votes were held open until 2 p.m. for final tallying.

HB 5017 — Tire stewardship program participation: The committee advanced HB 5017 (LCO 5590) to the floor (JFS). Sponsors said the bill implements a producer responsibility model that asks manufacturers, distributors and retailers to organize a stewardship organization (PRO) to provide free, convenient drop‑off and disposal services and to fund public education. Retailers raised concerns about potential…