An act relating to the siting of an expanded polystyrene foam densifier in the State

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Higley and 3 co-sponsors

The bill requires Vermont to study the viability, location, cost, access, and potential landfill ban related to siting an EPS foam densifier for recycling/ reuse.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Environment

Bill summary: H.280 (2025-2026) — Vermont

Main purpose and intent

To assess the feasibility of siting an expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam densifier in Vermont.

A densifier would serve as a location to transport waste EPS foam for recycling or reuse.

The assessment aims to inform decisions about siting, operation, potential banning of landfill disposal of EPS if a densifier is located, and access for stakeholders.

Key provisions and changes the bill would make

Definitions (Sec. 1(a)):

EPS foam densifier: a machine that shears, compresses, and heats waste EPS foam into a uniform melt for transport and reuse.
EPS foam: thermoplastic material processed by methods such as fusion of polymer spheres, injection/form molding, extrusion-blow molding, etc.

Secretary of Natural Resources’ duties (Sec. 1(b)):

Conduct a feasibility assessment for siting an EPS densifier in Vermont to process and transport waste EPS foam for recycling or reuse.
Coordinate with interested parties, including:
Solid waste management entities
Solid waste haulers
Businesses generating waste EPS foam through manufacturing or shipping
Produce a report by January 15, 2026 to the House Committee on Environment and Energy and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

Required contents of the feasibility report (Sec. 1(b)(1)-(4)):

A recommendation on whether to site an EPS densifier in Vermont, including location and which entity would operate it.
An estimated cost to purchase and operate the EPS densifier.
A recommendation on whether EPS foam should be banned from landfill disposal if a densifier is located in the state.
A proposal for how solid waste haulers, businesses, and the public would access the densifier for disposing of waste EPS foam.

Effective date (Sec. 2):

The act takes effect July 1, 2025.

Who or what would be affected

State agencies:

Secretary of Natural Resources would lead the feasibility assessment and report.

Stakeholders to engage:

Solid waste management entities and haulers
Businesses that generate or ship EPS foam
General public (through access and disposal processes)

Potential operators and locations:

The bill contemplates identifying a potential operator and siting location if the assessment supports it.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral:

Introduced by Representatives Masland, Higley, Mrowicki, and Olson; referred to the House Committee on Environment.

Timeline:

Report due by January 15, 2026 to the relevant committees.

Effective date:

August 1, 2025 (per the stated July 1, 2025 effective date; note: the bill text lists July 1, 2025 as the effective date).

Potential impacts and considerations (non-binding within current text)

If the assessment recommends siting a densifier, Vermont could move toward construction/operation and potentially regulate EPS disposal (including possible landfill ban) to prioritize densifier usage.

Economic considerations include capital and operating costs for a densifier.

Access framework would determine how haulers, businesses, and residents would use the densifier, impacting logistics and costs of EPS disposal.

Bottom-line

H.280 is a feasibility study bill that would require the state to evaluate whether placing an EPS foam densifier in Vermont is viable, who would run it, how it would be financed, whether EPS should be banned from landfills if installed, and how users would access the facility. A final policy decision would follow the assessment and its recommendations in a report due January 15, 2026.