SPONSOR: Pollitt
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs by a vote of 10 to 5.
This bill authorizes any county to adopt an ordinance, rule, regulation, or standard relating to solid waste management in the county as specified in the bill. Any setback applicable to a solid waste disposal area may not be more stringent than:
(1) Three miles from defined incorporated limits of a city, town, or village within the county; an accredited school or certain property owned and operated by school districts or educational institutions; a church or place of worship; a platted subdivision; or public areas designated for recreational activity;
(2) Three-quarters of a mile from any occupied dwelling used for residential purposes for at least six months a year; and
(3) Two hundred feet from the property line of the solid waste disposal area.
This bill is similar to HB 372 (2025).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the Pettis County landfill took in 618,000 tons of waste last year, while the county only produced 22,000. There is a massive importing of trash, and Pettis doesn’t want to be the trash capitol of the region. This bill allows local governments to make setbacks to protect the health of their land and communities. Rural Missouri is used as the solution to urban Missouri’s problems. Local governments that wish to can determine less stringent guidelines. Thousands signed the petition to stop the landfill, and it is good to be a net exporter of waste. Trash blows out of trucks when shipping trash into Pettis County, and the county has to clean it up. Statutes allow local regulation already. Failing to place clear guidance in statute forces courts to make determinations they aren’t well-equipped to make, and local governments are placed in conflict with the Department of Natural Resources.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Pollitt; Arnie Dienoff; Israel Baeza, County of Pettis; and Bill Taylor. OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that Missouri has become one of the largest waste exporters in the country, exporting 1/3 of all waste. Landfills have been failing to gain authorization in Missouri. The facilities are painstakingly located, and the upcoming landfill is set to be one of the most remote facilities in the State. This will eliminate the ability of new landfills to be sited or expanded. These plans are a critical component of economic development and public health. Opponents further state permitting landfills is no walk in the park now. The average permit time is 7-9 years, and 90% of facilities are rejected. These sites prevent illegal dumping and poisoned groundwater. Without the ability to dispose of waste, Missouri will also struggle to attract heavy industry as it comes back to the United States. It is more expensive and environmentally damaging to not handle this issue ourselves.
Testifying in person against the bill were Derrick Standley, Presidio Environmental; and Trail Consulting.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: