Josh Kelly, Solid Waste Program Manager at the Agency of Natural Resources, told LCAR that the 2024 materials management plan (statutory basis Title 10 §6684) is a five-year plan that remains action-oriented and updates municipalities on recycling, household hazardous waste (HHW) services and disaster-response requirements.

Kelly said the plan preserves municipal requirements for either a permanent HHW facility or two annual collection events and adds a requirement that each solid-waste management district or municipality identify at least one permitted inert debris site (commonly called a stump dump) to improve disaster debris handling and speed FEMA reimbursement. "We're requiring that municipalities have this at least one per district or town because of the for future disaster management," he said, noting the July 2023 flooding influenced the change.

Kelly also committed to launching a stakeholder process in 2025 to examine disposal capacity because Vermont currently has one operating landfill with limited remaining capacity. He said the state will coordinate with Vermont Emergency Management and FEMA on disaster staging and hazardous-waste collection and will work to ensure municipalities have short, actionable debris plans for emergencies.

A motion to approve Rule 24 P 19 passed by voice vote; several members spoke in favor and no opposition was recorded in the transcript. The agency said it intends to return with reports and to use the plan to guide outreach, education, and producer responsibility implementation already underway (e.g., rechargeable-battery and HHW producer-responsibility programs).