In general provisions, providing for areas where landfills are prohibited.
Summary
HB935 would amend Pennsylvania’s Solid Waste Management Act to create a new siting restriction for landfills. It prohibits landfills used for municipal waste, residual waste, or hazardous waste from being located within three miles of the border of a municipality with a population density of at least 1,000 residents per square mile.
The restriction would apply only to landfill projects that are still in the permitting process, including facilities seeking approval to initially open, reopen, or expand, and only where a final permit decision has not yet been made by the Department of Environmental Protection and any court with final jurisdiction. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to the Solid Waste Management Act establishing a statewide landfill setback rule tied to municipal population density. It would affect landfill developers, operators, and permit applicants by limiting where new, reopened, or expanded municipal, residual, and hazardous waste landfills may be sited. The Department of Environmental Protection would need to apply the new prohibition when reviewing pending permit applications, and the rule could constrain future landfill capacity near denser municipalities.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a precautionary, land-use and environmental-protection approach aimed at limiting landfill proximity to populated areas.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the geographic restriction itself: landfill operators, waste management interests, and possibly rural host communities may view the three-mile buffer as overly restrictive or as limiting available disposal capacity, while nearby residents and municipalities with higher population density may support it as a public health, nuisance, and environmental safeguard. Another possible issue is the bill’s application to pending permits for opening, reopening, or expanding facilities, which could affect projects already underway.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in residual waste, providing for prohibition on road spreading and land application of oil and gas wastewater.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; in residual waste, further providing for disposal, processing and storage of residual waste and providing for exempt special wastes; and making an editorial change.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; in residual waste, further providing for disposal, processing and storage of residual waste and providing for exempt special wastes; and making an editorial change.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; in applications and permits, further providing for permit and license application requirements; and making a repeal.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of the department and for powers and duties of the Environmental Quality Board.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of the department; in applications and permits, further providing for permits and licenses required, transition scheme and reporting requirements and providing for food processing residuals; and imposing penalties.