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Developing New Ohio CandDD Recycling and Anti-Dumping Laws – Amended S.B. 2 extends authority of Ohio EPA director to safeguard public health


September 9, 2017

Northeast Ohio’s vibrant commercial real estate industry has not only triggered a construction boom, but has resulted in greater volumes of construction and demolition debris (CandDD) that must either be recycled or landfilled. While most of this material is sent to disposal facilities licensed under Ohio law or to recyclers that run responsible, environmentally-friendly operations, some waste finds its way to illegal dump sites. These sites often collect and then abandon large volumes of waste material, creating nuisance conditions and leaving local communities and the state to bear the cost of cleanup.

The six-acre Arco dump in East Cleveland is one such site. It is considered one of the worst illegal dump sites in the state, and it sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Throughout this year, the Ohio EPA and Cuyahoga County have worked to clean up the site and hold the property owner accountable. The clean-up effort could cost as much as $6 million in state funds.

Thanks to new legislation signed by Governor Kasich in July, sites like the Arco dump may become less common and their owners easier to prosecute.

Amended Senate Bill 2 (S.B. 2) gives the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) new authority to regulate CandDD recycling in Ohio. State regulators and the CandDD industry alike welcomed the passage of the bill. The new law is designed to encourage legitimate CandDD recycling while preventing the operation of illegal dumps.

As legal counsel to the Construction and Demolition Debris Association of Ohio (CDAO), an industry group representing CandDD landfill operators, Walter Haverfield LLP played an integral role in drafting S.B. 2. This included submitting written comments and proposed language for the bill itself. We also participated in numerous Ohio EPA working group meetings on behalf of the CDAO and many of its member facilities who are also long-time firm clients.

CandDD is material resulting from the construction or demolition of man-made structures, such as houses, buildings or roadways. It includes non-hazardous materials such as brick, concrete, stone, glass, wall coverings, plaster, drywall, wood and roofing materials. Because CandDD is generally considered to be inert and poses little threat to the environment as compared to other wastes, Ohio regulates CandDD disposal separately from municipal and household solid waste.

Before S.B. 2 was passed, Ohio EPA had authority to license and regulate CandDD disposal facilities but not CandDD recyclers, even though many disposal facility operators had begun separating valuable recyclables for resale. The existing law did not prevent unlicensed operators from illegally collecting and storing mixed CandDD under the guise of recycling.

Ohio EPA now has the authority to develop regulations for CandDD recyclers (called “processing facilities”) to ensure that they will not create a nuisance, fire hazard, health hazard, or cause or contribute to air or water pollution. The new rules will include permit and licensing programs, plus requirements for the location, design, construction, operation, and closure of CandDD processing facilities. The rules may also cover the type of materials that can be recycled, how long they can be stored, and how much can be accumulated.

Most importantly, the new rules will require recyclers to establish financial assurance in case they go bankrupt or are otherwise unable to close properly. Ohio EPA’s newly-expanded legislative authority will allow greater control and oversight of the recycling industry to prevent future Arcos and safeguard public health, safety and the environment across Ohio.

Leslie can be reached at 216-928-2927 or lwolfe@walterhav.com.