PRINTER'S NO. 662
No. 593 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY THOMAS, PITTS, MORRIS, M. E. MILLER, McCLATCHY, RUGGIERO, W. W. WILT AND YAHNER, FEBRUARY 26, 1975
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION, MARCH 3, 1975
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.788, No.241), entitled 2 "An act providing for the planning and regulation of solid 3 waste storage; collection, transportation, processing and 4 disposal systems; requiring municipalities to submit plans 5 for solid waste management systems in their jurisdiction; 6 authorizing grants to municipalities; requiring permits for 7 operating processing or disposal systems; imposing duties on 8 and granting powers to municipalities; authorizing the 9 Department of Health to adopt rules, regulations, standards 10 and procedures; creating an advisory committee; providing 11 remedies, prescribing penalties, and making an 12 appropriation," providing for alternative plans for solid 13 waste disposal and granting certain powers to municipalities. 14 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 15 hereby enacts as follows: 16 Section 1. Section 2, act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.788, 17 No.241), known as the "Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act," 18 is amended by adding a paragraph to read: 19 Section 2. Legislative Finding; Declaration of Policy.* * * 20 With respect to the disposal of solid wastes in sanitary 21 landfills, it is further determined and declared that since new 22 technology exists to make more efficient, economical and 23 beneficial use of solid wastes through resource recovery systems
1 and since such systems enhance the environment by making use of 2 solid wastes, the development of such systems shall be 3 encouraged and utilized whenever possible to dispose of solid 4 wastes. 5 Section 2. Section 6 of the act is amended by adding a 6 clause to read: 7 Section 6. Powers and Duties of the Department.--The 8 department shall have the power and its duty shall be to: 9 * * * 10 (11) Require municipalities to submit alternative plans for 11 solid waste disposal and after review of such plan, to adopt and 12 approve the alternative plan that is least detrimental to the 13 environment consistent with reasonable costs but not necessarily 14 the least costly alternative plan. 15 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read: 16 Section 7.2. Additional Requirements for Landfill 17 Operations.--The elected officials of any municipality where a 18 sanitary landfill operation is proposed may prohibit the 19 establishment of the sanitary landfill and shall, at the request 20 of fifteen percent of the electors of said municipality, place 21 said question on the ballot for a referendum of the people 22 concerning the operation of a sanitary landfill within the 23 municipality. The elected officials shall be bound by the 24 results of the referendum. 25 Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately. B25L32RZ/19750H0593B0662 - 2 -