Advocacy

SWANA Submits Letter on Recycling & Circular Economy to Senate Committee

SWANA sent a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in response to an EPW hearing and roundtable on recycling and the circular economy. On September 22, the committee held a hearing on “ The Circular Economy as a Concept for Creating a More Sustainable Future.”  

SWANA’s letter emphasizes that the federal government must provide ongoing support to municipal recycling programs and suggests the amount of funding provided in the Infrastructure bill is inadequate. It notes more than 100 curbside collection programs across the Nation have suspended or reduced operations over the past three years, primarily due to issues of cost and contamination.

“We feel it’s important for all members of the Senate EPW Committee to hear SWANA’s perspective on these important issues,” states David Biderman, SWANA CEO and Executive Director. “In particular, we wanted to urge additional funding for recycling, whether through the Infrastructure bill or other legislation.”

SWANA supports the inclusion of the RECYCLE Act (S.2941) into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). The RECYCLE Act provides $75 million over five years to support consumer recycling education and outreach. SWANA’s research suggests it costs about $1 per household per year to effectively communicate about recycling. This suggests at least $150 million is needed annually for education.

SWANA participated in EPW’s September 13 Roundtable, “Investing in Recycling Infrastructure and Curbing Waste Stream Contamination.” At that Roundtable, Biderman described recycling as critical infrastructure and urged a higher level of federal support.

New Alternative Test Methods Approved for MSW Landfill NESHAP

US EPA has issued newly approved alternative test methods for compliance with the enhanced monitoring provisions in the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for MSW Landfills. The three new methods (ALT-143, ALT-144 & ALT-145) can be found on the EPA website:  Broadly Applicable Approved Alternative Test Methods.

The approved alternative methods can be used in lieu of Method 10 at landfill gas wells or for laboratory analysis.  NESHAP requires weekly monitoring of CO at the well if the gas temperature is over 145°F and no higher operating value has been approved by the regulatory agency under the NSPS/EG rules or NESHAP. The enhanced monitoring provisions became effective September 27, 2021.

ALT -143 allows for direct monitoring of CO at the well using a portable gas analyzer. ALT-144 and ALT-145 allow for using grab sample (canister, foil bag) and laboratory analysis, one with GC/FID and the other GC/TCD instrumentation.

A working group consisting of solid waste industry leaders, including SWANA, coordinated with landfill gas meter manufacturers and several national laboratories to prepare these methods for EPA approval.