Double victories were in hand for the Maryland compost community thanks to the passage of HB171 and HB1349, bills that speak to proper labelling of compostable products, and a state study on infrastructure expansion for Maryland.
The introduction of both bills was facilitated by Marylander Brenda Platt of the Institute for Local Self Reliance and leader of the MD-DC Composting Council Committee.
HB 171 requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to study and report on existing compost manufacturing infrastructure in Maryland, as well as laws passed by other cities and states that divert food scraps and organics, and to then recommend how to improve infrastructure and funding opportunities to expand composting in the state.
HB 1349 required products being sold in the state labelled as compostable to meet BPI standards, and used USCC model legislation designed by the Compostable Products Task Force.
North Carolina Fights Over-Regulation Bill in Statehouse
Several USCC member and North Carolina Composting Council compost manufacturers, including Jim Lanier of Earth Farms, and Noel Lyons of McGill Compost have been working to oppose H244, a bill the USCC feels unnecessarily requires a public hearing at the state level for compost facilities, since a public hearing is also held at the county level. This double-hearing is unnecessary and onerous for the compost manufacturing industry.
Testifying against the bill at an April 6 meeting of the NC House Environment Committee Meeting were Eric Wallace, Wallace Farms, and Amy Brooks of Brooks Compost. The next day, Rep. Julia Howard and Davie County Commissioners requested a meeting about the bill at Wallace Farms. Eric Wallace said the meeting was productive and positive.
“This response comes from the hard work of the North Carolina Composting Council members rallying their regulators and educating them on the benefits of compost and how it affects the Agricultural recycling, and landscaping Industries,” said Jim Lanier, president of the NCCC.
The bill still faces a hearing in the Agriculture Committee of the House.
For more information, visit www.compostingcouncil.org.