EnviroPolitics Blog

SWANA changes its position to support on bottle bills

The association’s updated policy endorses container deposit systems that allow recyclers to participate, set higher deposit values and allow for curbside materials to be included.

Plastic beverage bottles at a recycling center in San Francisco *Justin Sullivan via Getty Images*

By Megan Quinn, Waste Dive

The Solid Waste Association of North America has updated its policy position to support deposit return systems as a key to increasing collection rates and reducing litter. Its policy focuses on “single-use” beverage containers.

SWANA supports bottle bill policies as long as they meet characteristics such as ensuring recyclers are allowed to participate in the system, allowing ownership of covered materials to be retained “by whomever possesses it” and designing the program so any generated funds are invested back into the system.

SWANA also advocates for bottle bills that allow material collected curbside to be returned through deposit systems and have deposit values that are high enough to incentivize consumers to return the containers. It also calls for encouraging container designs that work effectively with existing recycling and reuse systems.

Which states have bottle bills? California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. Oregon was the first state to successfully pass a bottle deposit law in 1971, Vermont was the second state to pass a bottle deposit law in 1973, and Hawaii was the most recent in 2002.

SWANA says the national conversation around container deposit systems has gained momentum in recent years, prompting the association to bring its own policy “into the 21st century, especially considering potential federal legislation on the topic,” said Allison Trulock, the SWANA board’s technical division director, in a statement.

Read the full story here

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Feds finalize areas for floating offshore wind farms off Oregon coast

A Block Island Wind Farm turbine operates, Dec. 7, 2023, off the coast of Block Island, R.I., during a tour of the South Fork Wind farm organized by Orsted. The federal government has finalized two areas for floating offshore wind farms along the Oregon coast. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management says the two areas cover nearly 200,000 acres. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson,

By Clare Rush, Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The federal government has finalized two areas for floating offshore wind farms along the Oregon coast, authorities announced Tuesday, bringing the state closer to commercially developing and producing a renewable energy source that’s part of the fight against climate change.

The two zones cover roughly 195,000 acres (78,914 hectares) and are both located in southern Oregon, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said. One area is 32 miles (52 kilometers) off the coast of Coos Bay, and the other is 18 miles (29 kilometers) from the shore of the small city of Brookings, located near the California state line. They have the capacity for producing 2.4 gigawatts of energy, the agency said, enough to power roughly 800,000 homes.

Following the announcement, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said she was committed to developing a transparent roadmap for exploring offshore wind opportunities with the input of coastal and tribal communities.

“Offshore wind is likely to play an important role in meeting our state’s growing energy demand and goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040,” Kotek said in a statement. “It also presents a significant economic development opportunity for the Oregon coast.”

Read the full story here.

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Curious scramble for a look, and hike, up Pa.’s last private mountain

Backpackers on Pennsylvania’s Miller Mountain enjoy the view from a gas pipeline swath.Ad Crable

By Ad Crable, Bay Journal

Miller Mountain, the last privately owned, freestanding mountain in Pennsylvania, will not be a ski resort or junkyard. Nor will it carry a bypass around the Susquehanna River town of Tunkhannock, which it has long watched over.

In late December, Pinchot State Forest took ownership of the 2,500 acres of mostly forested land and opened them for hiking, camping, photographic vistas, mountain biking, hunting, wildlife management and other passive recreational uses that are the mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. As with other state forests, sustainable timber harvesting will also be allowed.

Part of the vast Appalachian Mountains, Miller Mountain is the highest peak in the area, at 2,216 feet. Just west of the Pocono Plateau, it serves as the eastern gateway to the state’s Endless Mountains and can be seen from almost anywhere in the region.

A backpacker takes a photo from a vista on Pennsylvania’s Miller Mountain. The spot was once to be a launching spot for a ski slope. Ad Crable photo

The mountain stands out because it is not attached to any ridge. “I feel its biggest attraction is it’s a landscape level acquisition. It’s not half a mountain. It’s like a sugar bowl sitting on its own,” said Nicholas Lylo, district forester of Pinchot State Forest.

And, added Timothy Latz, assistant district forester, it’s “one-stop shopping” for a wide variety of habitats.

Read full story here

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EnviroPolitics Weekend Legislative Report for February 12, 2024

Editor’s Note: We are experiencing technical difficulties that delayed the publication of this report and altered its normal format.

New Jersey Legislative Report for February 12, 2024

Bill: A3577
Sponsors: Collazos-Gill (D27)
Summary: Provides CBT credit for the development of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources and Solid Waste Committee.

Bill: A3633
Sponsors: Murphy (D7)
Summary: Establishes School Plastics Upcycling Grant Program in DEP to provide proportional awards to eligible schools based on pro rata share of plastics collected, by each school, for upcycling purposes; appropriates $5 million.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: A3645
Sponsors: Calabrese (D36)
Summary: Establishes low-carbon transportation fuel standard program in DEP.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: A3697
Sponsors: Spearman (D5); Park (D37)
Summary: Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and “2009 Farmland Preservation Fund” to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: A3698
Sponsors: Reynolds-Jackson (D15); Freiman (D16)
Summary: Appropriates $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and “2009 Farmland Preservation Fund” to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: ACR114
Sponsors: Murphy (D7)
Summary: Urges DEP and EDA to establish plastics recycling marketplace.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: S209
Sponsors: Smith (D17); Pou (D35) +1
Summary: Provides CBT tax credit for retrofit of existing warehouses with solar-ready zone once solar panels are installed.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S212
Sponsors: Smith (D17); Greenstein (D14)
Summary: Directs BPU to update interconnection standards for Class I renewable energy sources and develop fixed fee structure for interconnection costs.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee.
01/29/2024 — Transferred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S225
Sponsors: Smith (D17); Greenstein (D14) +1
Summary: Establishes incentive program for installation of energy storage systems.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S1392 Sca (1R)
Sponsors: Singleton (D7); McKeon (D27) +9
Summary: Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs the establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program.
History: 01/09/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
02/05/2024 — Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill: S2557
Sponsors: Steinhardt (R23)
Summary: Establishes requirements for the sale and planting of running bamboo; requires recordkeeping of certain violations and consideration thereof as grounds for license or registration review.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2592
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Creates alternate voting members on county agriculture development boards.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee.

Bill: S2593
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Authorizes use of certain constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants for prevention and remediation of harmful algal blooms.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2594
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2595
Sponsors: Bucco (R25)
Summary: Establishes bee-friendly habitat pilot program in the Department of Agriculture; appropriates $1 million.
History: 02/08/2024 — Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Bill: S2654
Sponsors: Greenstein (D14)
Summary: Directs BPU to conduct a study to determine whether microgrid and distributed energy resource deployment will reduce the length of power outages.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Bill: S2690
Sponsors: Cruz-Perez (D5)
Summary: Requires State entities to recycle certain materials and provide recycling bins in State buildings.
History: 02/08/2024 — Proposed for introduction.

Pennsylvania General Assembly

SB 1054 (Yaw) RGGI Regulation Abrogation
Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 2, 2024
Reported as committed from ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, Feb. 5, 2024
First consideration, Feb. 5, 2024
Second consideration, Feb. 6, 2024

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NJ Senate Democrats get a new deputy executive director

Rosa Farias

ByROI-NJ Staff

Senate President Nick Scutari on Thursday announced the appointment of Rosa Farias as deputy executive director of the Senate Majority Office; she is the first Latina to assume this role.

Farias steps into this position following the retirement of former Deputy Executive Director Kevin Duhon in January.

In her previous capacity, Farias served as a senior policy adviser to Senate leadership within the Senate Majority Office, where she collaborated closely with leadership to develop impactful policy platforms that directly benefited New Jersey residents.

Farias brings considerable experience spanning well over 15 years in state and local government to her new position, having also held roles as director of urban policy and research analyst within the Senate.

Read the full news release here

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Jessica D. Hunt Named Partner at Manko, Gold

Jessica D. Hunt

Jessica Hunt has been promoted to partner at the environmental, energy, and land use law firm of Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP (MGKF), located in suburban Philadelphia.

“Jessica has been an outstanding addition to the firm since joining us three years ago, MGKF’s Managing Partner Carol F. McCabe explained. “She has a deep knowledge of environmental regulatory programs, and her good judgment and legal skills make her a go-to resource for our clients.”

At MGKF, Hunt concentrates her practice on environmental regulatory compliance and permitting matters, with a particular focus on the areas of air and solid waste.

Prior to joining MGKF, Jessica was an assistant counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection where she counseled the Department’s Air Quality and Solid Waste programs since 2014. In that role, she negotiated settlement agreements with regulated entities in a broad spectrum of areas, counseled clients on interpreting the Department’s regulations, assisted clients in reviewing permit applications, and served as lead counsel for the Department in numerous litigation matters before the Environmental Hearing Board and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Jessica received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Delaware. She is a cum laude graduate of Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law. During law school, Jessica was a law clerk for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a law clerk for the Philadelphia Water Department, and a legal intern for Aqua America. She also served as the president of the Environmental Law Society.

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