Solid Waste (15)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0149 NeutralRequirement for Counties to Use Only GBI Approved Trauma Scene Cleanup Services and Consolidation of Fire Services Alan Powell
3/29/2018 Senate Disagreed House Amend or Sub Public Safety and Homeland Security Public Safety -
2017/03/06 - Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/23 Report Business and Occupation Tax Code Enforcement
Coroners/Medical Examiners Debra Nesbit Emergency Management/Preparedness EMS/Ambulance Fire Services
Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Georgia Bureau of Investigation Health and Human Services Law Enforcement Nat. Res. & the Environment
Public Safety and Courts Sheriff Solid Waste
This legislation preempts county and city governments from requiring licenses or permits for trauma scene waste management practitioners or regulated waste transporters.  When hiring a company to cleanup or remove trauma scene waste, counties and cities must hire a company approved by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  This bill was amended to include S.B. 319 which provides for the Consolidation of all Fire Services into a separate state agency.
HB 0387 NeutralSolid Waste Management - Coal Ash (Utilities) Jeff Jones
2/17/2017 House Second Readers Natural Resources & Environment --
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste Water Quality
This legislation addresses the disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) and requires certain electric utilities and power producers to convert to dry storage.
HB 0388 EvaluatingSolid Waste Management - Coal Ash (Landfills) Jeff Jones
2/17/2017 House Second Readers Natural Resources & Environment --
2017/02/17-Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste
This legislation addresses the disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) in landfills. Landfill owners would be required to create a managment plan if they receive or are planning to receive coal ash. In addition, landfill owners would be required to notify the local governing authorities of the county, and any city within the county in which the landfill is located, upon the initial submission of a said plan or upon submission of an amended plan.  
HB 0693 OpposeProhibits Liens on Property Where Solid Waste Fees Are Delinquent Brett Harrell
2/21/2018 Senate Read and Referred Ways and Means Natural Resources and the Environment -
2018/01/19 Report 2018/01/26 Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/02/23 Report
Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Property Tax Revenue & Finance
Solid Waste
This legislation would repeal the state law that permits local governments to place liens on properties for unpaid trash fees without going to court first. Local governments would still have other collection options, including filing a claim in Magistrate Court; a judgment from Magistrate Court can still be filed as a lien against the property of the debtor. Because direct filing of trash liens provides another tool for local government collection of unpaid fees, ACCG opposes this legislation.

The House passed HB 693 on 2/20/18. Vote Tally Link 
HB 0785 NeutralSolid Waste Management: Converting Plastics to Fuel Randy Nix
7/1/2018 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste
This legislation defines the practice of converting waste plastics into fuel and clarifies that these type of operations wouldn’t be considered a waste handling or waste disposal facility.
HB 0792 SupportReauthorize Hazardous Waste Trust Fund / Increase in Landfill Host Fee Terry Rogers
6/30/2018 Effective Date Ways and Means Natural Resources and the Environment -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/23 Report
Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Revenue & Finance Solid Waste

This legislation renews the fees that make up the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund (HWTF) for one year, from July 1, 2018 to July 1, 2019. Most of the fees come from the state’s 75-cent per-ton tipping fee on solid waste going into Georgia’s landfills – a fee counties pay if they own/operate landfills. 

This legislation also includes language to increase the state’s minimum local solid waste cost reimbursement (host) fee from $1 to $2.50 per ton on waste going to privately owned landfills. The $1 minimum fee has been in existence since 1992 and for the past ten years, ACCG has included in our policy platform a request for the host fee to increase.  ACCG was supportive of the efforts led by Sen. Burt Jones to increase this fee. 

Details: 
  • Host fee minimum increases from $1 to $2.50 per ton but not effective until July 1, 2019. This increase only applies to a municipal solid waste disposal facility that is owned by a private entity. 
  • Coal ash minimum fee is $1 per ton until 2025 when it will then increase to the $2 per ton minimum fee.
  • Inert waste, construction and demolition waste minimum is $1 per ton.
  • All of these fees are the minimum, not the ceiling. Counties can negotiate host fees, other fees and charges above the minimum. No host fees are to be reduced if they are in existence on July 1, 2019.
  • 50% of the host fee collected shall be used for these purposes:
    • To offset the impact of the facility
    • Public education efforts 
    • Cost of solid waste management
    • Administration of the local/regional solid waste management plan
    • Repair of damage to roads and highways associated with the facility
    • Enhancement of litter control programs
    • Ground-water and air monitoring and protection
    • Remediation and monitoring of closed or abandoned facilities
    • Infrastructure improvements associated with the facility
    • Reserve fund allocation
    • Acquisition of property adjacent or in reasonable proximity to the facility to serve as beautification, environmental, buffering or recreational purposes
    • Fees not used for the above purposes (the remaining 50%) can be used for other governmental expenses.
 
HB 0859 OpposeCash Payments for Scrap Metal by Secondary Metal Recyclers Robert Gasaway
2/12/2018 House Second Readers Regulated Industries --
2018/02/09 Report Debra Nesbit Nat. Res. & the Environment Public Safety and Courts Sheriff
Solid Waste
This legislation amends the statute to allow for cash payments by secondary metal recyclers up to purchases of $200.00.  Purchases over $200.00 must be paid by check or electronic transfer.
HB 0880 EvaluatingSolid Waste Management - Coal Ash in Landfills Jeff Jones
2/13/2018 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
2018/02/09 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste Water Quality
This legislation provides guidelines for the disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) in public and private landfills. Landfill owners or operators would have to notify the public of their intent to accept coal ash by placing a notice in the legal organ of the county. Landfills currently accepting coal ash would have to comply with new criteria set out by this legislation. 
HB 0975 OpposeSolid Waste Management: Coal Ash Disposal Robert Gasaway
2/22/2018 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
2018/02/23 Report Business and Occupation Tax Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government Kathleen Bowen
Nat. Res. & the Environment Revenue & Finance Solid Waste
The legislation addresses the disposal of coal combustion residuals.  The bill removes the host fee for coal combustion residuals disposals but authorizes the county operated municipal solid waste disposal facility to charge a fee up to .25 cents per ton for the disposal of coal combustion residuals.  In addition, for privately owned municipal solid waste disposal facilities, a new state excise tax of $2.50 per ton is to be charged to the producer for the disposal of coal combustion residuals. 
HR 1349 NeutralHouse Study Committee on the Solid Waste Disposal Process William Werkheiser
3/1/2018 House Second Readers Special Rules --
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste
This resolution creates the House Study Committee on the Solid Waste Disposal Process. 
SB 0065 SupportTire Disposal Restrictions and Fees Frank Ginn
1/8/2018 Senate Recommitted -Natural Resources and the Environment -
2017/01/27-Report 2017/02/03-Report Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
Revenue & Finance Solid Waste
This legislation requires tire retailers to collect the full amount of the scrap tire fee regardless of whether the customer leaves a scrap tire. The intent of this bill is to remove the incentive for individuals to take tires and illegally dump them. This bill does not apply to purchasers who are local governments or public utilities.  
SB 0165 EvaluatingSolid Waste Management - Coal Ash (Liability) William Ligon
2/15/2017 Senate Read and Referred -Natural Resources and the Environment -
2017/02/17-Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste Water Quality
This legislation imposes liability, in the event of a release, on any producer of coal ash who disposes of such coal ash in Georgia.
SB 0385 NeutralChief Medical Examiner: Burial Authority Burt Jones
5/3/2018 Act 358 Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/03/2 Report 2018/03/23 Report Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Revenue & Finance Solid Waste

During the House Rules meeting on 3.27.18, a substitute was offered that removes the private landfill host fee bill and in its place is a bill relating to the chief medical examiner and his/her authority to inter remains (bury) and disinter remains (remove a body from a grave).

The original intent of SB 385 increases the state’s minimum local solid waste cost reimbursement (host) fee on waste going into landfills owned by private entities.  The $1 minimum fee has been in existence since 1992.

Talking points advocating for the increase of private landfill host fees can be found hereSimilar host fee language has been added to HB 792

SB 0414 NeutralCharitable Collection Receptacles Lindsey Tippins
3/5/2018 House Second Readers Governmental Affairs State and Local Governmental Operations -
2018/02/16 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/2 Report Code Enforcement General County Government
Health and Human Services Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste Superior Court
This legislation allows local governing authorities to issue written notices for the failure to clean and maintain charitable collection receptacles. In addition, the local government could file a lawsuit in Superior Court for an order to remove a collection receptacle if the owner of the receptacle does not comply with violation notices on at least three occasions in one calendar year.
SR 1170 NeutralStudy Committee - Are Local Fees Going Toward Intended Purposes? Jack Hill
3/29/2018 Senate Read and Adopted ---
911 Alcohol/Tobacco Animal Control Broadband Business and Occupation Tax
Code Enforcement Econ. Dev. & Transportation EMS/Ambulance Fire Services Fireworks
Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Franchise Fees General County Government Health and Human Services Impact Fees
Land Use/Zoning Nat. Res. & the Environment Open Records/Meetings Act Probate Court Public Safety and Courts
Revenue & Finance Roads Sewer/Septage Sheriff Solid Waste
State Court Superior Court Tax Commissioner Todd Edwards Traffic Enforcement
Water Quality
Following much discussion over the past several years regarding the redirection of state-collected fees from their intended purposes, this Senate study committee (consisting of 5 senators) will examine whether or not local government fees are fairly and equitably imposed and whether the monies collected from them are being appropriately used and directed for the purpose(s) for which they are intended.  Examples of fees cited by this resolution include: storm water management fees, fire service fees, and traffic add-on fees.            
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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