On April 10, House Democratic lawmakers joined PennEnvironment zero waste pa announced a package of bills aimed at addressing single-use plastics, pervasive issues of litter and the various environmental harms caused by a "throwaway" society.

Legislation in the “Zero Waste PA” package works to address issues created by a disposable society including single-use plastics such as straws, plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout food containers, electronic waste, funding Pennsylvania’s recycling programs and more.

“We can no longer ignore the growing waste problem that is threatening our environment. My colleagues and I have introduced a package of bills that, together, address this problem from a number of angles,” said Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery). “By encouraging the use of more naturally biodegradable materials, addressing issues with the way we recycle, and finding ways to support environmentally friendly practices, we can help preserve our planet for future generations.”

“Every day, unwitting Pennsylvanians are barraged with products that we’re expected to purchase and use, and then throw away. Only, there is no ‘away,’” said PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur. “Instead, it ends up in landfills where it can cause water pollution, in incinerators that cause air pollution, or blowing around in our neighborhoods in the form of litter. Nothing we use for a few minutes should pollute our environment, neighborhoods, rivers and oceans for centuries to come.” 

The measures in the package include:

-- Banning Polystyrene Containers: Prohibiting food establishments from using polystyrene containers to distribute prepared foods-- House Bill 627. (Rep. Tim Briggs)

-- Increase Penalties For Littering: Dissuading litterers and illegal dumpers by increasing the fines and penalties for those caught illegally throwing away their garbage. (Rep. Donna Bullock)

-- Limiting Plastic Straw Use: Prohibiting establishments from offering plastic straws except upon the customer’s request-- House Bill 1176 (Rep. Mary Jo Daley)

-- Increase Waste Disposal Fee: Increasing the disposal fee for municipal waste landfills from $4 per ton to $8 per ton to help support important conservation and environmental protection programs. (Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler)

-- Increase Recycling Fee: Increasing the recycling fee that landfill operators pay from $2 per ton to $5 per ton on waste received at their landfills, the first increase in 30 years. (Rep. Mary Isaacson)

-- Authorizing Local Recycling Fees: Authorizing counties that have recycling programs to collect a recycling and waste management fee of up to $4 per ton, to be used to create and maintain new or existing recycling programs, programs to clean up illegal dumping sites or litter, and/or programs for alternative energy. (Rep. Patty Kim)

-- Diverting Organic Waste: Significantly diverting organic waste from our landfills and incinerators and spurring a market for organic waste composting (Rep. Danielle Friel Otten)

-- Cigarette Filter Recycling: Establishing a statewide cigarette filter upcycling initiative, where a 20-cent, partially reimbursed deposit on each pack of cigarettes sold in Pennsylvania would be used for collection centers and safe reuse. (Rep. Chris Rabb)

-- Plastic Package Recycling: Ensuring that producers of plastic packaging take responsibility for the decisions they make by requiring that they cannot sell or distribute plastic packaging in Pennsylvania unless they are part of a recycling program to take it back. (Rep. Melissa Shusterman)

-- Non-Reusable Plastic Bag Fee: Providing for a fee of two cents on each non-reusable plastic bag used by purchasers of consumer goods at retail establishments grossing over $1 million annually to support recycling. (Rep. Brian Sims and Rep. Jared Solomon)

-- Beverage Container Deposit: Creating a 5-cent beverage bottle and can deposit program in Pennsylvania. (Rep. Wendy Ullman)

--  Reusable Water Bottles: Encouraging the use of reusable water bottles by requiring that newly constructed state buildings, as well as existing state buildings undergoing renovations to water and pipe infrastructure, install water bottle filling stations. (Rep. Perry Warren)

-- Updating E-Waste Recycling Law: Addressing Pennsylvania’s failing electronic waste recycling law by taking from best practices implemented in other states to make Pennsylvania’s law effective. (Rep. Mike Zabel)

In the coming months, the lawmakers will be building co-sponsorship support for these measures and holding local events in their districts related to the package.

Visit Rep. Brigg’s Zero Waste PA webpage for more information.

Also learn about Zero Waste Pennsylvania waste reduction services available from the PA Resources Council.

NewsClips:

Murphy: Zero Waste PA Bills Seek To Move PA Away From Throwaway Society

PA Lawmakers Push To Eliminate Litter, Single-Use Plastic

FutureFest and ReUse Fest Teaming Up For Earth Day Party

Recycling Rejection Leaves Full Bins On Scranton Streets

3rd Recycling Event Set For Lower Burrell

Westmoreland Cleanways Plans Seasonal Cleanups, Collections

Flyers Can Be Trash Or Treasure On Philly Stoops, Residents Can Opt Out

Lycoming Commissioners Mull Contract To Develop New Portion Of Landfill

Editorial: Erie’s New Trash Program Paying Off

Lawmakers Want To Protect Taxpayer Money From Funding Projects Like Harrisburg Incinerator

Medical Waste Spills In Millcreek Township, Erie County

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[Posted: April 10, 2019]

4/15/2019