The bill amends sections 403.706 and 403.707 of the Florida Statutes to prohibit local governments and the Department of Environmental Protection from issuing construction permits for new solid waste disposal facilities or waste-to-energy facilities located within a half-mile radius of residential properties or schools. This restriction aims to mitigate potential environmental and health impacts associated with ash-producing incinerators and waste-to-energy facilities. The bill also clarifies that these provisions do not apply to existing constructions or operations as of July 1, 2025.

Additionally, the bill makes several conforming amendments to cross-references within the solid waste management statutes, including updates to definitions and provisions related to recycling goals. It establishes that counties may receive credit for recycling efforts and outlines penalties for local governments that fail to comply with the new requirements. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1609 Filed: 403.7049
H 1609 c1: 403.7049