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Board hears state recycling conference updates: PFAS bans, compost pilots and battery risks
Summary
At its Nov. 20 meeting the ESB received a recap of the Oct. New Mexico Recycling and Solid Waste Conference: state PFAS legislation that phases out intentionally added PFAS, classification of PFAS firefighting foam as hazardous waste, organics‑diversion pilots, and concerns about lithium‑ion battery fires at local collection sites.
Board staff reported key takeaways from the New Mexico Recycling and Solid Waste Conference in Santa Fe, attended by roughly 180 participants and 94 organizations.
On state PFAS policy, the presenter said New Mexico passed comprehensive PFAS measures in 2025. "We're the third state in the country to sign into law a comprehensive ban on the intentional use of PFAS," she said, describing House Bill 212 (PFAS Protection Act), which phases out consumer products with intentionally added PFAS (with exemptions for used products) beginning in January 2027, and HB140, which amended the state hazardous‑waste act to explicitly classify discarded firefighting foams containing PFAS as hazardous waste and empower the Environment Department to enforce cleanup and regulatory measures.
Conference sessions also covered organics diversion, composting pilots and community‑scale food‑waste programs. Presenters highlighted that most food waste originates in residences and restaurants; pilot diversion sites reported multi‑ton reductions and greenhouse‑gas benefits. The presenter noted county council approval to develop a local food‑waste composting program but said the project has stalled while staff seek a suitable site.
A prominent technical concern at the conference was lithium‑ion batteries. Presenters discussed how ubiquitous lithium‑ion cells are in consumer devices and the fire risk when they are disposed of improperly. The county reported several fires at Eco Station collection trailers this year tied to lithium‑ion devices, a costly safety issue that underlined discussion about extended producer responsibility and manufacturer take‑back programs to improve safe end‑of‑life management.
Staff also summarized several local utility and infrastructure updates reported at recent BPU meetings — waterline replacements, the Foxtail Flats renewable energy project (mobilization delayed into early 2027 due to part shortages), and a failed transformer in White Rock that prompted a temporary redundant tie to LANL power to maintain reliability.
Board members asked staff to present a recycling barcode audit at a future meeting (staff proposed January) and discussed how conference practices (share tables, bulk milk dispensers, school engagement) might inform local programs. The meeting closed with staff reporting an October county diversion rate of 33% and reminders about upcoming EV study presentations to council in early December.
