Waste Management

New Hampshire Legislature Enrols HB1192 To Exempt Certain Household Pharmaceutical Wastes From Hazardous Waste Definition

The New Hampshire legislature has passed HB1192, enrolling a bill that would exclude certain household pharmaceutical wastes collected under RSA 318-E from the state’s statutory definition of hazardous waste. Once enacted, this exemption will ease regulatory burdens on household pharmaceutical take-back programmes and clarify waste classification obligations for municipalities, pharmacies, and hazardous-waste contractors.

24 May 2026, 21:39gc.nh.govUnited States

Delaware Senate Introduces Amendment SA 1 to SB 287 on Solid Waste Recycling

Delaware’s Senate is considering SB 287 to tighten universal recycling requirements for haulers and commercial businesses, and Senate Amendment 1 has now been introduced to refine the bill while it remains in committee. If adopted, the legislation would expand mandatory recycling service, waste assessments, record-keeping and reporting expectations across residential and commercial generators, signalling a more prescriptive state approach to waste diversion and oversight for site operators in Delaware.

24 May 2026, 21:32legis.delaware.govUnited States

Texas Commission On Environmental Quality Agreed And Enforcement Orders; Opportunity To Comment (Comments Due 23 June 2026)

Texas environmental regulator TCEQ has published a Texas Register notice listing 40 proposed Agreed Orders and multiple adopted enforcement orders for industrial, energy and water sector facilities, with written comments on the proposed administrative orders due by 23 June 2026. For named operators, including major chemical and refinery sites, this consolidates penalties and corrective obligations and provides a short window to scrutinise orders, engage with TCEQ where appropriate, and recalibrate Texas environmental compliance and enforcement‑risk planning.

24 May 2026, 21:28sos.state.tx.usUnited States

US House Committee Advances H.R. 2145 Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act to Full House

The US House Energy and Commerce Committee has reportedly advanced H.R. 2145, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025, to the full House after a unanimous 48–0 vote. If enacted, it would channel new EPA grants and data efforts into expanding recycling and composting infrastructure in underserved US communities, signalling long-term support for municipal and packaging waste solutions rather than imposing immediate new producer obligations.

24 May 2026, 21:26d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.netUnited States

New York Senate Advances Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S01464A) to Third Reading

The New York Senate has advanced the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S01464A) to third reading, moving a far-reaching packaging extended producer responsibility bill for packaging and single-use plastics closer to passage. If enacted, large producers of packaged goods would need to register with a state-approved organisation, finance recycling infrastructure, cut packaging use, increase reuse and recycled content, and phase out PFAS and other toxic substances from packaging over the coming decade.

24 May 2026, 21:23nysenate.govUnited States

New York Bill S10168 Advances on Floor Calendar: Extended Producer Responsibility for Artificial Turf and PFAS Ban

New York lawmakers have advanced Senate Bill S10168, which would create a dedicated extended producer responsibility scheme for artificial turf and ban PFAS in new carpet and turf sold in the state from late 2026. If enacted, producers and retailers would face new collection, labelling, recycled-content and PFAS-compliance obligations, reshaping artificial turf procurement and end-of-life planning in New York.

24 May 2026, 21:23nysenate.govUnited States

US House Energy And Commerce Committee Reports Recycling Infrastructure And Accessibility Act To Full House

In May 2026, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously reported the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (H.R. 2145) to the full House, moving a federal pilot grant programme for underserved recycling infrastructure closer to adoption. If enacted, the law would direct EPA to administer up to $30 million per year through 2031 for grants to states, local governments, tribes and public–private partnerships, prioritising communities without a recycling facility within about 75 miles and reshaping where new MRF and transfer capacity is built.

24 May 2026, 21:22energycommerce.house.govUnited States

Idaho DEQ To Hold Fourth Scoping Meeting on Solid Waste Fees

Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality will hold a fourth scoping meeting on 28 May 2026 to discuss implementing solid waste fees authorized by 2026 House Bill 555 under the state’s Solid Waste Management Rules. This early-stage consultation signals forthcoming rule changes that could reset solid waste fee structures in Idaho, so affected operators and local governments may wish to engage now to anticipate cost and compliance impacts.

24 May 2026, 21:18deq.idaho.govUnited States

New Hampshire HB707 – House Concurs On Solid Waste Site Evaluation Committee Bill

New Hampshire’s HB707-FN has advanced with House concurrence on Senate amendments and would create a solid waste site evaluation committee that must certify major private solid waste disposal facilities and certain large expansions before construction can begin. If enacted, the bill would introduce a new state-level siting approval layer, delay new major solid waste capacity approvals until at least mid-2027, and increase fees and host-community payments, meaning longer lead times and higher costs for large landfill and waste operators planning projects in New Hampshire.

24 May 2026, 21:16gc.nh.govUnited States

Illinois EPA Administrative Citation AC 2026-005 Against Hensley Township Proceeds With Petition for Review

Illinois regulators have recorded Administrative Citation AC 2026-005 against Hensley Township for an alleged land-based open dumping violation, with the case now progressing after the respondent filed a petition for review in late May 2026. This illustrates active enforcement of Illinois waste and land management rules, signalling that municipalities and waste operators should reassess local dumping controls, inspection findings, and documentation to avoid similar actions.

24 May 2026, 21:16pcb.illinois.govUnited States

US PFAS Policy Signals – EPA Disposal Guidance Update and USTR Trade Concerns

EPA has issued a 2026 update to its non-binding guidance on destruction and disposal of PFAS wastes while the US Trade Representative's 2026 trade report and recent congressional testimony highlight concerns about foreign PFAS restrictions and ongoing implementation of US PFAS drinking-water standards. These developments signal tightening expectations for how PFAS wastes are managed, a reinforced polluter-pays focus, and potential trade friction with Canada and the EU over class-based PFAS bans that could affect critical clean-energy and high-tech supply chains.

24 May 2026, 21:14epa.govUnited StatesCanadaEuropean Union

Delaware House Proposes HB 431 To Require Counties To Allow Agricultural Composting

Delaware has introduced HB 431 to require county governments to allow commercial composting of yard waste, food residuals, and other organic materials on agricultural-zoned land, with minimum space allowances. If enacted, this will broaden siting options for composting operations and constrain restrictive local zoning, supporting organics recycling and sustainable waste management in the state.

24 May 2026, 21:12legis.delaware.govUnited States

California Agencies Announce Tribal Roundtables on SB 54 Plastic Pollution Fund and Recycling Grant Deadline

California agencies are convening two hybrid tribal roundtables in May and June 2026 on the SB 54 Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund and promoting open beverage container recycling grants, with applications due on 23 June 2026. These engagements and grants will shape how USD 500 million per year in SB 54 plastics mitigation funding and beverage container redemption support are targeted, signalling practical opportunities and priorities for tribes, recycling operators and packaging producers planning projects in California.

24 May 2026, 21:08calepa.ca.govUnited States

US FDA Publishes Programmatic Environmental Assessment for "Other" Oral Nicotine Products

In March 2026 FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products issued a programmatic environmental assessment for “other” oral nicotine products (pouches, lozenges, discs, tablets, gums and dissolvables) to support Premarket Tobacco Product Application decisions. The assessment finds minimal environmental impact from manufacturing, use and disposal and low aquatic risk from key hazardous constituents, signalling stable environmental expectations for applicants without introducing new immediate regulatory obligations.

24 May 2026, 21:05fda.govUnited States

EU Committee of the Regions Issues Opinion on Proposal to Amend Key Waste and Industrial Emissions Directives

The EU’s Committee of the Regions has issued its opinion on the Commission’s simplification omnibus proposal to amend key waste and industrial emissions directives, aiming to streamline requirements and cut administrative burdens. This advisory step signals legislative momentum but no immediate change in obligations, so operators covered by these directives should track upcoming Parliament and Council negotiations that will determine concrete permit, monitoring, and reporting changes.

24 May 2026, 21:02eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Italy Extraordinary Commissioner Halves Permit Timelines For Palermo And Catania Waste-To-Energy Plants

Italy’s extraordinary waste commissioner has issued an ordinance fast-tracking environmental and permitting procedures for the PFTE phase of new waste-to-energy plants in Palermo and Catania, effective from publication in May 2026. This significantly shortens public-sector decision timelines for these strategic incinerators, signalling strong political commitment to closing Sicily’s waste cycle and likely accelerating investment, construction and future operational obligations for local waste systems.

24 May 2026, 20:39gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

Germany (UBA) Publishes Case Study on Duty of Care for Electrical Appliances

The German Environment Agency has released a major case study and reporting methodology on how retailers, manufacturers, and remarketers should implement duty-of-care obligations for unsold and returned electrical appliances, feeding directly into EU ecodesign rules on destruction bans and transparency for unsold goods. This research signals that companies across electricals, and later textiles and furniture, should prepare for granular, standardised reporting on reverse logistics flows and stronger market surveillance, with potential cost and data implications for inventory, returns, and waste strategies.

24 May 2026, 20:37umweltbundesamt.deGermanyEuropean Union

Friuli Venezia Giulia Council Approves Environmental Amendments to Draft Law 79

Friuli Venezia Giulia has approved environmental amendments to Draft Law 79 that simplify EcoEventi funding, launch deplastification grants for catering microenterprises, extend the Bando stufe clean heating incentives, and support a regional renewable energy community. These measures strengthen local financial support for waste reduction, domestic air quality and community renewables, signalling that regional authorities expect households, small businesses and municipalities to accelerate investments in cleaner equipment and more sustainable event practices.

23 May 2026, 11:19regione.fvg.itItaly

Netherlands Prepares Draft Withdrawal of Tata Steel Coke Gas Plant Permits

In May 2026 the Dutch government informed Parliament that the Noordzeekanaalgebied Environmental Service is preparing a draft decision to withdraw Tata Steel IJmuiden’s KGF1 and KGF2 coke gas plant permits due to persistent breaches of environmental standards, including emissions of very concerning substances, alongside disputes over steel slag classification and a legal challenge to the company’s tailored agreement. Taken together, these steps sharply increase enforcement and continuity risk for Tata Steel’s Dutch operations, foreshadowing potential controlled closure of the coke plants and signalling tougher Dutch expectations on hazardous substances, waste handling and permit compliance for heavy industry.

23 May 2026, 11:18zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Global Study Assesses PFAS Transformation in Biosolids Pyrolysis Byproducts

A new peer-reviewed study of a full-scale biosolids pyrolysis plant finds that while PFAS-specific fluorine signatures drop sharply, most extractable organic fluorine persists in biochar and long-chain PFAS transform into higher levels of shorter-chain species like PFBA, PFBS, and TFA. This evidence challenges assumptions that pyrolysis alone fully destroys PFAS in biosolids and suggests regulators and utilities should account for residual and transformed PFAS in biochar and byproducts when setting standards for biosolids treatment, reuse, and disposal.

23 May 2026, 11:18pubs.acs.orgGlobal