NWRA State Update: NWRA’s Florida Chapter Continues to Monitor Biosolid Legislation
In Florida, House Bill 1309 sponsored by Rep. Bobby Payne (R- Palatka) was unanimously approved on March 15 by the Environment, Agriculture & Flooding Subcommittee. This bill relates to the ratification of the Department of Environmental Protection rules in regard to biosolids. The companion, Senate Bill 7060, was heard in the Environment & Natural Resources Committee and also passed by a vote of 4 to 1.
Since 2019, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been working on a rule to regulate biosolids. Due to legislation that passed last session, the DEP withdrew the previous rule and fast-tracked a new one. Because the Statement of Estimated Regulated Costs (SERC) showed that the adverse impact or regulatory cost of the proposed rule exceeded $1 million in the aggregate, within five years after implementation, the proposed rule must be submitted to the legislature for ratification.
The Florida chapter of the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) has traditionally monitored biosolid legislation. A few years ago, legislation was proposed to mandate biosolids disposal at landfills only. Not all landfills can handle this type of waste, so the proposed legislation was defeated.
