Senate Considers Interstate Waste Hauling Restrictions

Date: March 21, 2002

Source: News Room

The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee has begun discussing whether Congress needs to intervene to curb increases in garbage being shipped across state lines. From 1993 to 2000, out-of-state waste imports climbed from 14.5 million tons to 32 million tons a year, according to the Congressional Research Service. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) introduced legislation last week that would allow states and municipalities to freeze waste imports at 1993 levels and set limits on how much imported waste a landfill could receive. Ohio is among the top importers of solid waste, along with Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan and Indiana. New York is the largest exporter of trash since New York City recently closed the Fresh Kills Landfill. Other large exporters are New Jersey, Illinois, Missouri and Maryland.

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