October 22, 2007
Dear Representative,
On behalf of PennEnvironment's citizen members, I am writing to ask you to support HB934 in tomorrow's Environmental Resources and Energy committee meeting. HB 934 is essential to addressing recent court decisions that threaten the future of Pennsylvania's county-level recycling programs. These recycling programs are essential for reducing trash and household hazardous waste from being disposed of in state landfills and incinerators. At the same time, these programs play a critical role in promoting the most efficient reuse of recyclable materials.
Unfortunately, a recent decision by the Commonwealth Court (Waste Haulers Association, et al v. County of Northumberland et al) ruled that Pennsylvania's counties do not have the legal authority to impose fees on trash collected within the counties' borders as a method to fund their countywide recycling programs.
Moreover, this same court decision also ruled that counties do not have the authority to correct this funding problem. This court decision has forced many of Pennsylvania's county-level recycling programs to close their doors since they will no longer have a funding source to pay for their important work. For this reason, it is essential for the state legislature to take steps to reinstate the ability of county officials to raise funds in order to finance their local recycling programs.
For example, Crawford County generated approximately one third of its recycling funding from county administrative fees. The loss of this revenue will result in the elimination of several recycling programs including the county's Household Hazardous Waste diversion, electronic waste collection and county-wide recycling education programs.
In Mercer County, lack of funding may lead county officials to maintain only four recycling depot sites and layoff of all staff except a fiscal coordinator and a driver. The county will face a deficit of over $120,000 as well as a greatly reduced recycling program, unless they are able to come up with a new source of funding.
In Cumberland County, officials charged $2.50 per ton and generate roughly $500,000 per year to fund 80% of their county's recycling program -- all lost unless the state takes action. Universally, the loss of the administrative fee will force counties to reduce their recycling programs or face budget deficits.
For these reasons, PennEnvironment calls upon the legislature to take immediate steps to tackle this important issue and ensure that Pennsylvania continues to have vibrant and successful recycling programs at the county-level. This can be achieved by passing HB934.
Please do not hesitate to contact me by email (DMasur@PennEnvironment.org) or by phone (215-732-5897 or 267-303-8292) with any questions about this legislation or other environmental issues. I look forward to continuing our work together to protect Pennsylvania's environment.
Sincerely,
David Masur, Director
PennEnvironment
