JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on House Bill No.
HB1011
Compost Preference and Waste Separation Rules
In one sentence
This act allows local governments to give preference to locally produced compost in contracts and requires large generators of organic waste to separate it from other trash, with penalties for non-compliance.
What it does
- Allows the governing body of a locality to prefer compost or soil amendments made within such locality when there is a tie bid for such products in contracts.
- Requires certain generators of large quantities of organic waste to separate organic waste from other solid waste and ensure that it is diverted from final disposal in a refuse disposal system through specified waste diversion activities.
- Establishes civil penalties for businesses that repeatedly violate the separation rules after receiving warnings, with specific penalty amounts for subsequent violations.
- Expresses the intent that new public school buildings include proper disposal systems for food scraps, recyclables, and liquid waste.
Who it affects
- Local governments when awarding contracts involving compost or soil amendments.
- Large generators of organic waste such as supermarkets, cafeterias, and similar businesses.
- New public schools in terms of including proper disposal systems for food scraps, recyclables, and liquid waste.
Limits and unknowns
- The bill does not specify how localities will enforce the new requirements on generators of organic waste.
- It is unclear what criteria a generator must meet to obtain a waiver from the waste separation requirements.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Generator
- A business or facility that produces large amounts of organic waste, such as public and nonpublic school facilities, supermarkets, convenience stores, or similar establishments; a business, school, or institutional cafeteria; and a cafeteria operated by or on behalf of the Commonwealth or a locality.
- Organic Waste
- Material derived from the processing or discarding of food, including pre-consumer and post-consumer vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, and meats.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Local competitive bidding for compost and other products containing organic soil amendments; waste disposal infrastructure; civil penalty. Allows the governing body of a locality to give preference to compost or other products containing organic soil amendments produced within such locality in the case of a tie bid when determining the award of any contract for compost or other products containing soil amendments to be purchased for use by such locality. The bill also provides that any locality may by ordinance require that certain generators, as defined in the bill, of large quantities of organic waste separate the organic waste from other solid waste and ensure that the organic waste is diverted from final disposal in a refuse disposal system by any of a variety of specified waste diversion activities. The ordinance may also establish civil penalties for violations of the ordinance, but a locality shall first issue a warning to a generator that violates the ordinance. Finally, the bill expresses that it is the intent of the General Assembly that new public school buildings and facilities and improvements and renovations to existing public school buildings and facilities include waste disposal infrastructure, as defined in the bill, that includes a place for the disposal of trash, recyclables, and food scraps and a sink for liquid waste. This bill is identical to SB 226.
Official activity
Bill history
- Approved by Governor-Chapter 1121 (effective 7/1/2026)Governor
- Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1121)Governor
- Governor's recommendation adoptedGovernor
- Signed by SpeakerHouse
- Signed by PresidentSenate
- Communicated to GovernorHouse
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026Governor
- ReenrolledHouse
- Reenrolled bill text (HB1011ER2)House
- Governor's amendment nos. 1, 4, and 5 agreed to (66-Y 34-N 0-A)House
- Governor's amendment nos. 2 and 3 passed byHouse
- Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate
- Governor's recommendation received by HouseGovernor
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1011)House
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026House
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
- Signed by SpeakerHouse
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026House
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
- Signed by PresidentSenate
Changes
Amendments
5 stored
(HB1011) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
1/29/2026 HB 1011 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.
OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 1/29/2026 HB 1011 SUBCOMMITTEE 1.
1/30/2026 HB 1011 COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS 1.