On Feb. 15, AB 798, a WISPIRG-backed bill to stop out-of-state waste and increase money for recycling, had a hearing before the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The committee did not vote to advance the bill.

“We need to act to ensure that Wisconsin will not continue to be the dumping ground of the Midwest,” said WISPIRG State Director Jennifer Giegerich.

Non-recycled waste in Wisconsin increased by almost 2.2 million tons last year—a 46 percent increase from the previous year. The bill would make it more expensive to bring trash into Wisconsin and provide more funding to recycle in-state waste.

Private waste companies, such as Waste Management, Inc., opposed the bill. WISPIRG has been working with a coalition of groups including Waukesha Environmental Action League, Citizens Against Out of State Waste and Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters.

WISPIRG will work with our allies to build support for the bill next session.