Environment: More Brownfields Progress, Packaging Waste Study

After much discussion and lots of negotiation, SB 233 passed, and in its final version creates a task force to study methods for reducing consumer packaging in Connecticut through source reduction and reuse and recycling.
The bill is part of a heightened focus on helping the DEEP achieve a state recycling goal of 60% by 2024.
A task force will evaluate non-regulatory methods for reducing the amount of consumer packaging in Connecticut’s waste stream.
As with many other solid wastes, a large amount of consumer packaging is recyclable and significant progress could be made simply by making sure those recyclable materials are actually recycled rather than tossed into the solid waste stream.

Brownfields                       

This was another successful year in the state’s progress on increasing brownfield cleanup and redevelopment.
HB 5425 creates a Brownfield Land Bank for the purpose of acquiring, remediating and selling abandoned, contaminated properties on behalf of the municipalities – thereby shielding affected municipalities from liabilities associated with these environmentally distressed properties.