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House OKs bill letting residents in remote areas bury their own nonhazardous waste with rules
Summary
The House passed House Bill 13 unanimously (74‑0), allowing residents in limited remote locations to bury nonhazardous waste they produce on their own property and giving the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste rulemaking authority to regulate the practice, sponsors said.
The Utah House on Jan. 29 approved House Bill 13, a narrowly scoped measure that permits certain residents in remote parts of the state to bury nonhazardous waste they generate on their own land, subject to rulemaking by the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste.
"This bill allows an individual living in one of these very remote areas the ability to bury their waste on their own property," Representative Menlove said on the floor, adding the allowance applies only to waste the resident produces themselves and expressly excludes hazardous material and waste from other entities. He said the amendment gives the Division rulemaking authority to ensure buried material is appropriate (SEG 335–366).
Menlove said the practice has been used in rural Utah historically and the bill is limited in scope because private disposal companies and municipalities provide services in most areas of the state. After the proposer waived summation, the House opened and closed voting; the reading clerk announced HB 13 had received 74 yes votes and 0 no votes, and the bill will be transmitted to the Senate.
The bill’s sponsors emphasized the limited scope — remote residents without available services — and said rules will be developed to prevent inappropriate burial practices. The Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste will have authority to adopt rules under the adopted amendment.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
