Advocacy

MSW Landfill Emissions Federal Plan Published

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Federal Plan for MSW landfill emissions in the Federal Register on May 21. The Federal Plan will apply to nearly 1,600 landfills across the U.S. in the 42 states and two territories that do not have a plan approved by EPA.

Based on its publication date, the Federal Plan will become effective on June 21, 2021. MSW landfill owners and operators subject to the Federal Plan will then have 30 months to install gas collection and control systems after meeting the new emissions thresholds. The Federal Plan applies to MSW landfills that commenced construction on or before July 17, 2014 and have not been modified or reconstructed since then.

The newly updated federal standards align with the 2016 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and 2020 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for MSW landfills. 

EPA has approved or partially approved plans covering parts or all of several states: Arizona, California, Delaware, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia. Florida and New York submitted their own plans and will no longer be subject to the Federal Plan if and when those state plans are approved. It is expected that additional states will also submit plans now that the federal one has been finalized.

The new Federal Plan will be discussed as part of SWANA’s virtual Landfill Challenges Summit on Thursday, June 17. Other items on the agenda include how PFAS can affect waste management planning, methane detection using infrared and drone technology, and methane mitigation strategies when building on a closed landfill.

SWANA, National League of Cities Call on Congress for Action on Recycling

SWANA and the National League of Cities (NLC) sent a joint letter to Congressional leadership requesting their support for legislation to ensure recycling remains environmentally and economically sustainable throughout the United States. The Chairs and Ranking Members of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee and House Energy & Commerce Committee are called on to specifically consider the RECOVER Act (H.R. 2357) and the RECYCLE Act (S. 923) supported by SWANA and NLC.

Both bills address consumer confusion on how to properly recycle, which is a leading cause of contamination. Through education and outreach, the RECYCLE Act and RECOVER Act will help to decrease contamination in the recycling stream and increase recycling rates. The RECOVER Act also invests in recycling infrastructure allowing communities to expand their programs and keep up with the evolving material stream.

The letter highlights the numerous benefits that recycling provides, both environmentally and economically, throughout the United States. This includes more than 681,000 jobs and $5.5 billion annually in tax revenues.

Biden Proposes EPA Budget, Increased Funding for Solid Waste & Recycling Programs

President Biden has requested a major budget increase for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2022, including a slight increase for the EPA’s Waste Minimization and Recycling Program and $10 million for a Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) pilot grant program.

SWIFR is a new grant program focused on improving solid waste management infrastructure and post-consumer materials management. This investment is the result of new authority provided in the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, which was passed by Congress in December 2020 and supported by SWANA.

The Administration is proposing $11.2 billion for the Agency, a 21.6% increase over current funding levels. This will allow EPA to expand staffing and programs in order to address priorities identified in EPA’s budget brief, including Tackling the Climate Crisis through Science; Advancing Environmental Justice; Supporting State, Tribal and Local Partners; and Expanding the Capacity of EPA.

Nena Shaw, Acting Director for the EPA Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division, will talk about how recycling fits within the agency’s priorities under the new Administration during SWANA Sustainable Materials Management Summit on Tuesday, June 15.

The budget proposed by President Biden represents his request for the coming year, with final amounts set by Congress. The new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2021 and runs through September 30, 2022.