New Jersey – Waste Disposal Surcharge

In 1987, New Jersey became the second state in the country to make recycling mandatory. The state demonstrated its renewed commitment to waste diversion with the passage of the Recycling Enhancement Act (REA) in 2008, which imposed a recycling tax of $3 per ton of solid waste disposed at or transferred to a solid waste facility, including transfer to out-of-state facilities.… Read More

Wisconsin – Waste Disposal Surcharges

Wisconsin established its “State solid waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and resource recovery policy” in 1989 with Act 335, now codified in section 287.05 of the Wisconsin Statutes. This policy recognizes that waste reduction and diversion are in the best interest of the state to conserve resources, preserve the environment, and protect public health. The policy established a hierarchical preference of solid waste management options… Read More

Pennsylvania – Waste Disposal Surcharges

Pennsylvania is a pioneer in using State-imposed surcharges on top of existing tipping fees to fund state and municipal recycling and local land conservation programs. Revenues come from a $6.25-per-ton surcharge on top of municipal waste disposal fees.  … Read More

Waste Surcharges to Fund Composting and More

One funding mechanism with a proven track record of raising funds to reduce and recycle waste is the establishment of a per-ton surcharge on waste landfilled or incinerated. A waste disposal surcharge is typically a fee added to the per-ton tipping fees charged for waste disposal at waste disposal sites such as landfills, incinerators, and transfer stations. They can be charged to waste haulers or even at the generator-level such that households and businesses are taxed directly based on waste generated.… Read More

New York – Soil Health and Climate Resiliency

New York State’s Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act aims to reduce the effects of farming on climate change and to enable farmers to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change by focusing on sustainable water management and soil health on farms. It establishes the Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act, the Soil Health Program, and the Climate Resilient Farming Initiative. … Read More

Policies on Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration

Some of compost’s most valuable benefits yield from its ability to efficiently build and bolster soil health. Compost application increases soil organic matter, in turn reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, building soil biodiversity, decreasing the likelihood of plant disease and pest issues, increasing soil capacity to absorb water, and building soil’s overall resilience to extreme weather. Featured here are examples of policies that aim to bring these benefits of soil health and carbon sequestration to fruition through the encouragement of soil-supportive practices.… Read More

Policy Tools for Capacity Building

The Waste to Wealth program seeks to encourage a composting infrastructure that is locally distributed and possesses a diversity of scales, feedstock materials, and end-uses for compost products. For more information, see ILSR’s report on “The State of Composting in the US” for a national snapshot of composting policy and models to replicate.   Model Policies

Maryland – Right to Compost for HOAs and Condos

The right to engage in composting is often prohibited or highly restricted for those living within homeowners’ associations (HOAs) or condominiums. Maryland House Bill 248, which became law on May 30th, 2021 without the Governor’s signature, clarifies rights and restrictions on composting regulations in condominiums and HOAs throughout Maryland. The new law, sponsored by Delegate Emily Shetty (District 18), allows condominium and HOA unit owners to subscribe to food scrap collection services and HOA lot owners to compost at home. It will take effect on October 1, 2021. … Read More

Rules to Encourage Composting

Policy is a major driving factor in enabling and mobilizing composting efforts, especially for farmers and local community sites, by providing financial incentives and supporting expansion of infrastructure. A growing number of cities, counties, and states are recognizing the benefits of composting and, accordingly, enacting policy measures that support the creation and expansion of composting programs and efforts.… Read More

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