Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction
HB0338 creates a new subtitle in the State Finance and Procurement Article governing how yard waste collected on the grounds of State buildings and State highways must be handled. It defines key terms such as “State building,” “State highway,” and “yard waste,” and applies to State employees and contractors who collect yard waste as part of work on those properties. The bill prohibits disposing of that yard waste in single-use plastic containers and requires it to be collected in a container that will not be discarded with the waste or in a compostable paper bag.
The bill also requires that, when certain distance and capacity conditions are met, yard waste collected from State buildings or State highways be taken to an in-state organics recycling facility, a natural wood waste recycling facility, or a State facility capable of making mulch or soil amendments. It excludes noxious weeds and invasive species designated by the Department of Agriculture from these requirements. The act takes effect October 1, 2025, and would add new operational requirements for State agencies and their contractors involved in grounds maintenance, landscaping, and highway maintenance.
HB0338 would amend the State Finance and Procurement Article by adding a new Subtitle 10 on the collection and disposal of yard waste, creating enforceable standards for State-owned and State-leased properties and adjacent State highway lands. It affects State agencies, public institutions, contractors performing grounds services, and facilities that receive yard waste, while also tying disposal practices to existing Environment Article definitions for organics recycling and natural wood waste recycling facilities. The practical effect is to shift State yard-waste handling away from single-use plastic and toward compostable collection methods and in-state recycling or reuse pathways.
The bill appears to have been received positively in the legislative process, as reflected by the committee report of “Favorable with amendments” and House adoption. The available record does not include committee testimony or recorded votes, so the discussion history is limited, but the procedural outcome suggests broad support with some technical or policy refinements. Overall, the measure aligns with environmental and waste-reduction goals and does not show evidence of strong opposition in the provided materials.
The main points of potential contention are operational and logistical rather than ideological. The bill imposes new requirements on State employees and contractors, including the use of non-discarded containers or compostable paper bags and the obligation to use specified disposal facilities when they are within a 30-mile radius and able and willing to accept the waste. Questions could arise about compliance costs, facility availability, transportation burdens, and how the rules apply in areas without nearby qualifying recycling or mulch facilities. The exclusions for noxious weeds and invasive species also indicate a need to balance recycling goals with agricultural and environmental management concerns.