Ohio lawmakers address influx of out-of-state waste

Ohio lawmakers are looking to address the millions of tons of out-of-state waste imported to the state’s landfills annually, reports WTVG.

According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), the state imported 7.4 million tons of waste in 2022, more than double the amount imported in 2014. 

State Sen. Bill Reineke says Ohio is becoming the “trash receptacle” for the rest of the nation because of “simple economics,” and warned of the threat of out-of-state waste. 

In Seneca County, part of Reineke’s district, WIN Waste Innovations—a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based waste services provider with extensive waste-by-rail infrastructure throughout the Northeast—operates one of the state’s largest landfills. 

Ohio EPA data shows the landfill accepted 2.3 million tons of waste in 2023, 97 percent of which came from outside the state, largely transported by rail cars from East Coast states with limited disposal capacity. Much of this waste comes from construction sites, with Reineke noting that Ohio hasn’t updated construction and demolition (C&D) debris fees in years. 

His proposed legislation, Senate Bill 147, which passed the Senate unanimously, would allow affected solid waste management districts (SWMDs) to impose a fee on C&D waste. The money collected would go to local health officials to ensure adequate resources are available to inspect and oversee the landfills. 

“This will allow us to make financial decisions with the funds that we are bringing into the county through out-of-state waste because of the landfill and ensure that WIN Waste is operating in a manner that helps ensure our residents and environment are safe,” says Seneca County Health Commissioner Julie Richards.

WIN Waste opposed a different version of the legislation during the previous General Assembly, WTVG reports. In a statement provided to 13 Action News, a spokesperson for the company criticized the C&D fee included in the bill lawmakers are currently debating.

“SB147 is an antibusiness tax on construction & demolition waste, which would raise costs for construction projects and the large and small businesses that depend on them for employment and economic vitality. With inflationary pressure and market volatility here to stay, this bill would further threaten job security for many Ohioans locally and throughout the state,” the statement said.

The legislation also aims to give communities more say in their SWMDs. Seneca County is part of a three-county SWMD with Ottawa and Sandusky counties. An effort by Seneca County commissioners last year to leave the district was blocked by Ottawa and Sandusky counties, WTVG reports. 

Seneca County leaders wanted to create their own SWMD, arguing that fees generated by the landfill in their county should be used in their county. They also say that being part of a joint district has made it challenging to make decisions they feel are best for their county.

Reineke’s bill would allow counties to withdraw from a joint district without approval from other counties in the district.

“We shouldn’t be forced to remain in a bad joint agreement that puts our community at risk,” says Clay Wolph, president of the Seneca County Board of Health.

Reineke’s bill awaits hearings in the House of Representatives, where similar legislation was recently introduced.