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MD

Bill

A 2102

Exempts community gardens operating on-site composting systems or other systems of managing organic waste from certain DEP permits under certain conditions.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Margie Donlon and 7 co-sponsors

Bill A 2102 exempts community gardens with on-site composting from certain DEP permits to reduce regulatory barriers for volunteer-operated food production and waste management initiatives.

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee
#environment #solidwaste
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Bill Summary · A 2102

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 2102 exempts community gardens from certain Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permits when they operate on-site composting or organic waste management systems. The exemption applies only when specific conditions are met, allowing these gardens to manage their own waste without full regulatory oversight.

Why is this important

Community gardens support local food production, environmental education, and neighborhood revitalization, but regulatory compliance costs can be prohibitive for volunteer-run operations. This bill reduces bureaucratic barriers that may discourage composting practices—which benefit soil health and waste reduction—while allowing DEP to focus enforcement on larger-scale operations.

Potential points of contention

  • Environmental safeguards: Exempting permits entirely could allow improper composting practices (e.g., contaminated waste, pest management failures) to go unmonitored, potentially affecting neighboring properties or groundwater
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill references "certain conditions" without specifying them in this summary, creating uncertainty about which gardens qualify and how DEP will enforce selective exemptions
  • Equity concerns: Gardens with resources to document compliance may qualify while under-resourced sites face barriers, potentially widening access disparities

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

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