House passes bill clarifying recycling facilities won’t be regulated as solid-waste sites

The Utah House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 4,001, solid waste amendments, during a fourth special session in November 2016. Sponsor Representative Oda said the bill adds clarifying language developed with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and EPA Region 8 to prevent recycling facilities that meet the bill’s definition from being treated as solid-waste facilities.

Representative Oda told colleagues that earlier language in a prior bill prompted concerns from DEQ and the EPA and that the governor vetoed earlier language until parties agreed on wording. “This bill now has the clarifications from EPA, from EPA, Region 8 and from DEQ,” Oda said, describing the revisions as crafted with recycling-industry representatives and intended to avoid restricting recycling operations under solid-waste operating plans.

The sponsor said the measure is intended to encourage recycling and to serve as a model to inform federal definitions. The House opened voting on HB 4,001 and, after summation was waived, recorded 68 yes votes and 0 no votes; the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.

Members also adopted intent language for HB 4,001 clarifying that facilities under section 19-6-502 A and B “solely accept recycled products” and that the language should not impede DEQ administration or waste-facility fee administration. The intent language was read on the floor and adopted by voice vote.

The House took no further amendments on the floor; the next procedural step is Senate consideration of the transmitted bill.