Lawmakers at the state level have become more involved in landfill siting and permitting issues this year. Legislation in Oregon, sent to the governor this week, could change how Republic Services measures methane at a landfill in the state. Bills further regulating landfills in Hawai’i and Ohio are also awaiting their respective governors’ signatures. Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, landfill siting restrictions are included in the latest version of the state’s budget bill.
Here’s a look at recent landfill news from around the U.S.
Oregon bill requiring Republic to monitor methane heads to governor’s desk
The Oregon legislature passed a bill requiring Republic Services, owner of the Coffin Butte Landfill in Corvallis, to use advanced methane monitoring technology. The bill comes after the facility has faced scrutiny from federal regulators and independent groups over its emissions.
If the bill becomes law, SB 726 would require the operator of the landfill in Benton County to use “satellite monitoring, airflight monitoring, drones or remote direct monitoring technology that yields emission rates and the location of a methane emissions point source” beginning Jan. 1, 2027. As operator, Republic would be required to track any emissions exceedances and resolve them, keeping all surface emissions monitoring records for at least five years…