4219226 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Recyclable Food Waste Disposal Fee-Setting Formula and Fee

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

__________________________________

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

 

The Director of the Department of Public Works, pursuant to the authority set forth in Section 2(c) of the District of Columbia Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1989, effective July 25, 1989 (D.C. Law 8-16; 36 DCR 4155), as amended by Section 6012 of the Solid Waste Disposal Cost Recovery Act of 2007, effective September 18, 2007 (D.C. Law 17-20; 54 DCR 7052)  and Section 2 of the Solid Waste Disposal Fee Amendment Act of 2008, effective March 21, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-322; 56 DCR 7052), and Mayor’s Order 2005-123, dated August 29, 2005, hereby gives notice of the intent to adopt the following rulemaking to amend Chapter 7 (Solid Waste Control) of Title 21 (Water and Sanitation) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).

 

The proposed rulemaking will establish the fee-setting formula and actual fee for recyclable food waste disposed of at a District trash transfer station.  The Department of Public Works is implementing a pilot program to provide food waste transfer services, at one of the District’s trash transfer stations, to encourage commercial solid waste haulers who collect food waste from businesses to compost the food waste.  This pilot will improve city-wide recycling efforts and provide local composting options to businesses in the District of Columbia.

 

Final rulemaking action shall not be taken in less than fifteen (15) days after date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.  This reduced period of review has been adopted for good cause.  The proposed rule will provide a benefit to the public because it will expand the services available at the District’s transfer stations and encourage expanded composting of waste, which will reduce the amount of waste disposed of at landfills and provide a benefit to the public. Notice of the composting service at the District’s transfer station has been provided to parties identified as having an interest in hauling compostable waste.  The parties will also have an opportunity to attend an informational meeting regarding the District’s new composting program.

 

Chapter 7, SOLID WASTE CONTROL, of Title 21, WATER AND SANITATION, of the DCMR is amended as follows:

 

Section 719, SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FEE-SETTING FORMULAS, is amended by adding a new Subsection 719.10 to read as follows:

 

719.10       The following fee-setting formula is established for the disposal of each ton of food waste:

 

Solid Waste Disposal Fee for Recyclable Food Waste=Processing cost of recyclable food waste + Recycling Surcharge

 

 

 

 

Section 720, FEES, is amended by adding a new subsection 720.11 to read as follows:

 

720.11       Beginning on April 1, 2013, the applicable fee for the disposal of recyclable food waste at the waste-handling facilities shall be sixty-two dollars and fifty-two cents  ($62.52) for each ton disposed; provided, that a minimum fee of thirty-one dollars and twenty-six cents ($31.26) shall be imposed on each load weighing one thousand pounds (1,000 1bs.) or less.

 

 

All persons interested in commenting on the subject matter in this proposed rulemaking action may file comments in writing, not later than fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register, with Christine V. Davis, General Counsel, Department of Public Works, 2000 14th Street, N.W., 6th Floor, Washington, D.C.  20009.  Copies of this proposal are available, at cost, by writing to the above address.