Senate Bill 13: A legislative update.
In December, a bill was introduced in the Missouri State Senate that would eliminate all 20 solid waste management districts across the state, and significantly decrease the amount of funding available for waste reduction and recycling programs.
On February 5, the bill was passed out of the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment committee and is currently being revised before being presented on the Senate floor for debate after the Easter recess.
If this bill were to pass, it would end what has been a very successful grant program that has awarded over $30 million in funds from Missouri landfills since 1993.
St. Louis Earth Day’s Recycling On the Go and Green Dining Alliance have received grant funding from the St. Louis Jefferson Solid Waste Management District, and encourage you to stay informed, as this bill could result in a drastic shift in the state’s approach to resource management.
Once Senate Bill 13 (SB13) is scheduled, there will be a need to contact your state Senator to encourage s/he to support the conservation of resources by maintaining the successful solid waste management district grant program and not allowing for the decrease in already low landfill tipping fees.
SWMD funding is important in helping us (and MANY other local organizations and municipalities) increase recycling, decrease landfill waste, and educate people about conserving resources. Grants are currently awarded on a local basis, to meet local needs.
Take Action
If you can’t wait to act, please thank the following Senators for voting against SB13:
Senator Joseph Keaveny
Represents part of St. Louis City.
573.751.3599
joe.keaveny@senate.mo.gov
Senator Wayne Wallingford
Represents Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Perry, Scott and Wayne Counties.
573.751.2459
wayne.wallingford@senate.mo.gov
Senator Ed Emery
Represents Barton, Bates, Cass, Henry and Vernon Counties.
573.751.2108
ed.emery@senate.mo.gov
Please continue to check back here and keep updated on the latest on this bill, as it could have a very big impact on many services that YOU appreciate and enjoy.
Read More
Read our original post about SB13, with information about the history of Solid Waste Management Districts and exactly how the bill would result in a giant step back in sustainability for the entire state. “Source of recycling funding at risk.”
View the most recent version of the bill online.
This act eliminates solid waste management districts and the Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee. Money from the Solid Waste Management Fund that was previously allocated for grants to solid waste management districts will be allocated for grants to cities, counties and providers of solid waste management, waste reduction, recycling or related services. The percentage of money allocated for grants is reduced by the amount previously used for overhead and administration costs of solid waste management districts. The requirement that a solid waste management plan be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources is eliminated.
Currently, a tipping fee is collected per ton accepted by landfills and transfer stations and deposited into the Solid Waste Management Fund. This act reduces the fee by the amount previously allocated for solid waste management districts’ overhead and administration costs. The fee for solid waste sanitary landfills and transfer stations is reduced from $2.11 per ton accepted to $1.71 per ton. The fee for solid waste demolition landfills is reduced from $1.41 per ton accepted to $1.20 per ton.
