Maine officials need to get a handle on solid waste issues to protect citizens, municipalities and the environment. To that end, I strongly urge state senators and representatives to support LD 1363, “An Act to Ensure Landfill Capacity and Promote Recycling.”

As part of the bill, the Joint Standing Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources recently voted to create a subcommittee to study Maine’s policies relating to the state’s waste hierarchy, recycling and landfill capacity.

The subcommittee will be looking at issues raised in legislation submitted during the current session relating to waste and recycling, and recommending legislation for the next session of the 126th Legislature. That should also include a definition of what constitutes out-of-state waste, which will enable Maine residents, communities and enforcement officials to know how much waste is coming from beyond state borders, where it originates and what is the nature of the waste.

The bill would also enact a moratorium on licenses issued by the DEP for landfill expansion until May 1, 2014.

That would allow time for the DEP to study Maine’s waste capacity needs and the Legislature to develop needed recommendations on waste policy. That would ensure there is enough long-term space for Maine’s waste, as well as to address changes affecting Maine’s waste hierarchy resulting from a series of minor policy changes that are creating incentives for disposing of materials in landfills that could more safely and affordably be reused, recycled or composted.

Jim Lysen, Lewiston