This bill implements the following measures concerning the management and regulation of waste in the State.
1. It clarifies the authority of the Department of Environmental Protection to manage waste within the State, as directed by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Director of the Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management within the department identified in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 938, subsection 1-A, paragraph G.
2. It directs the commissioner to convene a task force consisting of department staff and other stakeholders to develop recommendations to improve solid waste management practices, reduce solid waste volumes and associated costs and reduce the environmental
44 impacts of the waste management industry. The department is required to submit a report
45 by January 15, 2027, and biennially thereafter, regarding the task force's findings and
46 recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction
47 over environment and natural resources matters, which may report out related legislation.
3. It requires that, beginning January 1, 2026, an applicant for a new or amended waste facility license must submit with its license application a description of the methods by which the applicant will collaborate with communities surrounding the facility in, and solicit and accept community input regarding, the development and operation of the facility and conduct comprehensive reviews of any such input.
4. It requires a waste facility licensee to annually report to the department information regarding the origin, volume and disposition of waste materials managed by the licensee and any other information required by the department. The licensee may report aggregated information in a manner that does not require the submission of individual customer information or contractual information, and the department is required to make all such reported information available on its publicly accessible website.
5. It amends eligibility criteria for grants under the Maine Solid Waste Diversion Grant Program established in Title 38, section 2201-B to authorize disbursement of grants to public and regional entities to cover necessary costs incidental to or associated with the implementation of a proposed program, project, initiative or activity, including, but not limited to, the hiring of or contracting with consultants or specialists, the conducting of feasibility studies and the promotion of collaborative regional efforts.
6. It requires the department to develop and implement a pilot program designed to evaluate innovative solid waste management solutions, which may include, but is not limited to: funding of studies to evaluate current waste disposal processes and associated costs; developing and testing incentives to reduce waste management volumes; and assessing the feasibility and cost savings associated with contracting for waste collection and transportation services across a region. On or before January 15, 2027, the department is required to submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources matters a report outlining the results of the pilot program and including any recommendations for legislative action. After reviewing the report, the committee may report out related legislation.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1793, SP 695: 38.2201