The Department of Environmental Protection this week released a draft report aimed at revisiting and improving the non-hazardous waste program in the Commonwealth making general recommendations for clarifying the definition of waste, changing reporting requirements, coproduct and general permit process.

Last year, DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty asked department personnel find new ways to improve environmental quality while enhancing economic growth in Pennsylvania. DEP formed an internal workgroup to begin the process and later engaged DEP’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee to capture additional ideas and suggestions for improvements to the program.

The general goals of the project were to: 1. Reduce waste and pollution with the overall goal to eliminate; 2. Identify and implement approaches to environmental challenges that facilitate new economic growth; 3. Develop beneficial reuse markets; 4. Increase protection of public health and the environment through development and implementation of more effective and less burdensome requirements; 5. Ensure greater engagement of citizens and other stakeholders in carrying out our priorities.

Many of the recommendations are already in the process of implementation. Other recommendations will be implemented through regulatory changes which will be discussed with the Solid Waste Advisory Committee later this year.

A copy of the draft Waste Redux Project Report is available online.

6/12/2005