Final Paper Topic - H. R. 274 "Solid Waste Interstate Transportation"

     My final paper topic is H. R. 274, “To impose certain limitations on the receipt of out-of-State municipal solid waste, and for other purposes.” This bill was introduced by Robert Wittman, Republican representative of Virginia, in the House of Representatives. This act proposes to address environmental and political concerns by giving more power to the states to limit garbage imports and regulate operators. The reason States cannot regulate for themselves their municipal solid waste imports is that only Congress can regulate interstate commerce.


     Solid waste management has been a major public concern. There are many states overflowing with solid waste such as New York, New Jersey, Missouri, Maryland, and so forth. The more states are industrialized or urbanized, the more solid waste is produced. Thus the states are looking forward to transport the solid waste to other states in order to landfill or incinerate that. Nobody wants to receive solid waste. In case solid waste contains something risk of health, the residents’ resist in the dumping area would be stronger. Thus decision makers should concern about NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) phenomenon. However, I could found a few states are welcome solid waste, because they recycle it and make money.

     Nevertheless, the conflicts between states frequently initiate litigation. This act H. R. 274 is expected to reduce these problems. In my paper, I am going to the cases of conflicts between states, and study how well currently government manages solid waste interstate transportation. Last, I will look at how effectively the Act H. R. 274 could handle these problems.