§ 8-6-712 — Regulation of solid waste disposal

(a) A regional solid waste management district which has an approved solid waste management plan may: (1) (A) Require, by rule or other legal means, that solid waste generated or collected within the boundaries of the district be delivered to a particular project for disposal, treatment, or other handling. (B) Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed as impairing legal and proper contracts existing on March 26, 1991, under the Arkansas Constitution, or the notes or other evidences of indebtedness incurred pursuant to a revenue bond issued or reissued dependent upon a project involving a stated waste stream which is a contractual condition of said indebtedness; (2) Prohibit, by rule or other legal means, the collection of solid waste within the boundaries of the district by persons not properly licensed by the district; (3) (A) Authorize that a city, county, or any person in an adjoining district may deliver solid waste to a designated landfill within the district for disposal, treatment, or other handling. (B) Provided, however, that notice of all such authorizations shall be submitted to the Division of Environmental Quality within thirty (30) days and shall be incorporated into the district's needs assessment in its next regular update; (4) Provide, by rule or other legal means, that no person, other than as may be designated by the district, shall engage in the collection or utilization of solid waste within the district which would be competitive with the purposes or activities of the district; and (5) Covenant in connection with the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness to adopt any rule described in subdivisions (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(4) of this section and that any rule so adopted shall remain in full force and effect and shall be enforced so long as any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness remain outstanding. (b) The districts shall issue rules or regulations which are consistent with and in accordance with but no more restrictive than all applicable environmental protection performance standards adopted by state law or incorporated by reference from federal law. (c) (1) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the disposal of solid waste generated by a private industry in a permitted landfill where the private industry bears the expense of operating and maintaining the landfill solely for the disposal of waste generated by the industry or wastes of a similar kind or character. (2) This section does not prohibit the collection or disposal of solid waste by a municipality with an existing permitted landfill with a twenty-five-year capacity as of January 1, 1991, when the municipality bears the expense of operating and maintaining the landfill and the landfill complies with United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations and division rules. (3) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality or county from constructing or operating a facility or project to process and market recyclable materials for use as fuel. (d) Furthermore, nothing in this subchapter shall prohibit the disposal of dead animal carcasses through means which are otherwise permitted by state law or rule.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2021, No. 469,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 554, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 553, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 552, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 551, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 2652, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 2651, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 1991, No. 752, § 2; 1993, No. 619, § 2; 1999, No. 1164, § 74.