Over the spring and summer we will continue to add more pages to our site, with current information on waste reduction, reuse, recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility, composting and Zero Waste planning.
Waste statute means more costs, more clout for cities and towns
A new cost-cutting measure for MassDEP shifts certain responsibilities for siting and permitting solid waste facilities to local health boards. Passed by the Legislature July 1, 2010, this statute revision applies to transfer stations, landfills, and incinerators:
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1.Local health boards will rule on siting of waste facilities. DEP will no longer be involved in facility site assignments.
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2.Local Boards of Health will issue permits for small transfer stations (taking in no greater than 50 tons per day).
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3.Both state and local regulators may make enforcement of recycling a condition of operating permits for transfer stations.
The third provision provides communities with small transfer stations a new tool to slash waste generation, which would also reduce disposal costs, and could offset the costs that the new permitting duty entails for the city or town.
Mass DEP has convened a Task Force to advise on the transition of responsibilities. More info on those meetings on the DEP web site at http://.mass.gov/dep/public/committee/swtf.htm
Website in progress !
Munis promote producer responsibility
Tired of excess packaging, appliances that can’t be repaired, products that can’t be recycled?
Massachusetts municipalities have formed a Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council (MAPSC) to promote a statewide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for the Bay State. EPR legislation requires brand owners to pay for managing their discarded products, which in turn gives them a financial incentive to design products for durability and recycling. EPR also saves cities and towns the costs of recycling or disposing of these products.
Contact the MACP Coordinator here to learn how your city or town can join the Council.
Legislative Action
Find your legislators here.
E-Waste Bill
An Act to Require Producer Responsibility for the Collection, Reuse, and recycling of discarded electronic products.
Action: Ask your legislators to require producers to be responsible for their products. Vote YES on H252 and S353.
Has your town passed a resolution
supporting the E-waste Bill? Find out here.
Bottle Bill
An Act to Expand the Bottle Bill
Action: Ask your legislators to expand the beverage categories under
the deposit and return system. Vote YES on H890 and S1650.
Has your town passed a resolution supporting the Bottle Bill? Find out here.
Zero Waste in Palo Alto
Thanks to Palo Alto’s Zero Waste plan, total garbage tonnage for that city fell 44% between 2007 and 2009.
