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SB 201

An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, further providing for organization.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Baker and 14 co-sponsors

Creates three Solid Waste Fund accounts to fund staff, perpetual care, and an MSU circular-economy institute, with grants to boost recycling markets and local programs.

Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
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Bill Summary · SB 201

SB 201 — Solid Waste Management Fund: circular economy account & related programs (Introduced April 15, 2025)

Status: Introduced (4/15/2025); referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture. Amends: 1994 PA 451, secs. 11550 & 11582 (MCL 324.11550 & 324.11582).

Purpose / Intent

Create a dedicated funding structure within Michigan’s Solid Waste Management Fund to (1) support state materials-management operations and long‑term care of disposal facilities, and (2) establish a sustained funding stream for a “circular economy institute” (hosted at Michigan State University) to advance research, workforce development, and technical assistance for material reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery.

Key provisions

  • Establishes three distinct accounts inside the Solid Waste Management Fund:

    • Solid waste staff account (for DEQ/EGLE administrative, permitting, inspection, enforcement, planning and outreach work under Part 115).
    • Perpetual care account (to fund postclosure maintenance/monitoring and corrective actions at disposal sites when operators fail or are no longer obligated).
    • Circular economy institute account (to support an MSU‑based institute focused on circular economy activities).

  • Legislative intent: each fiscal year the circular economy institute account should receive at least 10% of the combined total deposited in the solid waste staff and perpetual care accounts in the preceding fiscal year.

  • Eligible uses (expenditures require appropriation):

    • Solid waste staff account: permit/license review and administration, inspections, enforcement, groundwater-monitoring audits, corrective-action/closure reviews, postclosure inspections, materials management planning, materials‑utilization education/outreach, development of recycled‑materials market directories, administration of Part 115 grants/loans, and up to 1 FTE at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for recycled‑materials market development.
    • Perpetual care account: pay for postclosure maintenance/monitoring or closure/corrective action only after other financial assurance mechanisms have been exhausted and other funding sources reasonably pursued.
    • Circular economy institute account: support MSU institute activities — research with industry/public/nonprofit partners; training and technical assistance; business/workforce development, job creation, corporate responsibility; professional development/certificate programs.

  • Creates/clarifies three grant programs (subject to appropriation and department administration):

    • Recycling Markets Program — grants/loans for equipment, technology, R&D to expand use of recycled materials; eligible: local governments, nonprofits, for‑profits.
    • Local Recycling Innovation Program — grants/loans for local infrastructure, education, technology to boost recycling access/quality/participation and sustainable materials management.
    • Recycling Access & Voluntary Participation Program — grants/loans to help local units implement best practices and collaborate; eligibility requires an approved materials management plan and progress toward statutory recycling benchmarks.

Who is affected

  • State agencies: Department administering Part 115 (DEQ/EGLE), Michigan State University (institute host), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (1 potential FTE).
  • Local units of government (counties, municipalities) — as grant applicants and recipients.
  • Nonprofit and for‑profit entities involved in recycling/market development.
  • Owners/operators of materials management facilities — greater enforcement oversight and a dedicated perpetual care funding mechanism.
  • Potential broader effect on recycling markets, workforce development and local recycling services if appropriations are provided.

Fiscal & procedural notes

  • Expenditures from the new accounts require legislative appropriation; the bill sets structural and programmatic priorities but does not appropriate specific dollar amounts.
  • The “at least 10%” deposit to the circular economy account is expressed as legislative intent (a funding target), not an automatic transfer.
  • Introduced 4/15/2025 and currently in the Senate Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee; future budget actions would determine actual funding and program rollout.

Overall, SB 201 organizes and directs existing and potential new Solid Waste Management Fund resources toward stronger regulatory capacity, long‑term care of disposal sites, recycling market development, and establishment of an MSU‑based circular economy institute.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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