House approves solid-waste fee overhaul after contested debate over cost shifts

The House on March 1 approved the third substitute of House Bill 115, a proposal to revise how nonhazardous solid-waste program fees are set and to address what the sponsor called a long-standing inequity in fee burdens among facilities.

"That cost is roughly just under $1,800,000," Representative McHale said on the floor, describing the program oversight cost. He said 68 facilities have plans of operation but only 40 pay regulatory fees; "90% of it is being bore by the private industry today," he told colleagues, and used examples where an East Carbon facility pays roughly $725,000 while the Salt Lake Valley landfill pays about $33,000 under current fee rules.

The bill gives the Division of Solid Waste authority to adopt an equitable fee schedule and requires consultation with industry and local government. An amendment added language directing the division to consider fee differentials for transfer stations and to include public notice and hearings as part of setting new fees.

Opponents and questioners raised concerns that the proposal could shift costs from private operators to public taxpayers, and discussed whether certain classification differences or interstate competition might be affected. Representative McHale acknowledged some stakeholders oppose changes and said the bill is not unanimous consensus but intended to broaden the base and lower rates to those currently overburdened.

After extended debate and questions from several members, the House passed the bill on a recorded vote, 42 yea and 27 nay, and referred the bill to the Senate for further consideration.