Subcommittee backs ban on single-use plastic containers for state yard waste (HP164)

The Environment and Transportation Committee’s environment subcommittee on Monday recommended House Bill 164 favorably, endorsing a measure that would prohibit disposing yard waste collected on the grounds of state buildings or state highways in single‑use plastic containers.

Kristen, staff to the subcommittee, said HP164 is in the same posture as the version the panel passed last year. “It prohibits a person from disposing yard waste collected on grounds of a state building or state highway in a single use plastic container and instead requires a person to collect the yard waste ... in a container that will not be discarded with a yard waste or in a compostable bag,” Kristen said. The requirement would apply to state employees and contractors serving the state.

A member asked what happened to last year’s bill in the Senate. Kristen said the prior measure reached second reading in the Senate and was subsequently laid over with no further action. With that context, a subcommittee member moved to recommend HP164 favorably, the motion was seconded, and the panel voted in favor. The chair announced, “Bill passes.”

Why it matters: the bill targets waste generated by state property operations and aims to reduce single‑use plastic sent to landfills. The subcommittee did not identify a fiscal note during the discussion; members focused on the bill’s posture and prior Senate action rather than local implementation details.

What happens next: with a favorable recommendation from the environment subcommittee, HP164 will proceed along the committee track specified by legislative rules for further consideration in the full committee and the legislative chamber.