Baltimore’s Zero Waste Future

ILSR has been assisting grass roots organizations in Baltimore to fend off new incinerators and shut down an existing aging and polluting garbage incinerator in Downtown Baltimore, planning for and implementing Zero Waste practices. These practices would also help the city and communities address other pressing problems in the city; including the need for more good jobs, reduced recidivism, elimination of the ‘digital divide’, and creation of new small businesses, community based food production and environmental education.

The following article makes suggestions for transforming the current recycling system, and an update on community based activity in the context of rapidly changing markets, technology and entrepreneurial opportunities.… Read More

California – Healthy Soils Program

In 2017, the California Healthy Soils Program (HSP) was launched with the goal of sequestering carbon, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improving soil health in the state. The program includes incentives to adopt soil health practices, on-farm soil health demonstration projects, and a block grant program.… Read More

Ohio – Waste Disposal Surcharges

Ohio has a few surcharge fees on waste disposal that fund state level regulatory programs. The original surcharges were established in 1988 by Ohio House Bill 592 (now coded in Section 3734.57, Paragraph A of the Ohio Code). The fees have been amended several times since 1988. Now, Ohio has four state surcharge fees on the disposal and transfer of municipal solid waste.… Read More

Iowa – Waste Disposal Surcharge

Iowa collects a base tonnage fee of $4.25 per ton on waste disposed of at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, which went into effect in 1987 via the Groundwater Protection Act of 1987 (presently Iowa State Code section 455B.310). Tonnage fee reports for Jan-Dec 2020 indicate $8 million in revenue.… Read More

North Carolina – Waste Disposal Surcharge

The state of North Carolina implemented a Solid Waste Disposal Tax of $2 per ton on July 1, 2008, which generated $23 million in FY 2020-21. Revenue from the Disposal Tax currently supports city and county solid waste management programs and hazardous site cleanup, and previously supported a Solid Waste Management Trust Fund.… Read More

Minnesota – Waste Generator Surcharges

Minnesota exhibits a unique example of a waste surcharge, where fees are collected at the generator level instead of at the disposal site. First introduced in 1997, Minnesota’s solid waste surcharges, called the Solid Waste Management Taxes, target household, commercial, and industrial waste generators. These taxes intend to incentivize participation in recycling and composting programs.… Read More

Santa Clara County, California – Waste Disposal Surcharges

Santa Clara County’s commitment to achieving zero waste is exemplified by its Sustainability Master Plan, which aims to achieve a 75% reduction in disposed organic waste by 2025 (compared to 2014 levels), in addition to a 25% reduction from 2019 levels of daily per-capita waste generation by 2030. One way that the County supports its waste reduction efforts is through surcharges on waste disposal.… Read More

Indiana – Waste Disposal Surcharge

Established in 1996, Indiana charges a state-wide solid waste disposal fee of $0.50 per ton on solid waste disposal at final disposal facilities in Indiana. The revenue is deposited equally into the Solid Waste Management Fund and the Indiana Recycling Promotion and Assistance Fund.… Read More

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