AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- COMPOSTING AND ORGANIC WASTE DIVERSION

HB 5195 establishes a program to reduce solid waste and promote composting and organic waste diversion in the state. It creates a new solid waste disposal surcharge of two dollars ($2.00) per ton, to be paid by entities disposing of waste at refuse disposal facilities. Revenue from this surcharge will fund a new "Compost Fund," administered by the Department of Environmental Management. This fund will award grants to support projects related to reducing solid waste, rescuing surplus food, recovering shells, producing and using compost, and minimizing illegal dumping.