At the Texas House of Representatives’ Environmental Regulation Subcommittee hearing on Air Quality and Municipal Landfills on January 23, Anne Germain, vice president of technical and regulatory affairs for the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), and Michael Rice, PE, and Robert Holder, PE, board members of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), testified before the subcommittee at its request.

The testimonies focused on the subcommittee’s charge to “Study the permitting, siting and regulatory processes for solid waste landfills, including municipal solid waste landfills, and whether current rules, regulations and notice requirements adequately ensure compliance and maximize participation from the public and stakeholders.”

Rice and Holder gave relevant examples of operations and permitting to help the subcommittee better understand how current practices are protecting the public health and safety. And Germain gave insight on how NWRA members are remaining in compliance with current regulations.

“Landfills are among the most highly regulated facilities in the country and public input and stakeholder involvement has been a cornerstone of these regulations,” said Germain in a statement. “I look forward to talking about these regulations with members of the committee and discussing the steps our members take to remain in compliance. The Texas legislature and the general public can rest assured that NWRA members make every effort to comply with local, state and federal regulations governing the construction, operation and maintenance of landfills. Our members want to be good neighbors.”