[PASSED] Landfill Regulation Act

[Cretox State]

OOC: A proposal to regulate the establishment and maintenance of solid waste landfills. As always, any feedback is appreciated.

Draft 5: Cleaning up.

Landfill Regulation Act

Category: Environmental
Area of effect: All Businesses - Mild

The World Assembly,

Understanding the importance of landfills in providing a cost-effective method for the disposal of non-compostable and non-recyclable solid waste,

Concerned by the potential environmental and health hazards of solid waste landfills, and

Wishing to provide a regulatory framework for the safe operation of solid waste landfills to mitigate such hazards, hereby:

1. Defines for the purposes of this resolution:
   1. a "solid waste landfill" (SWL) as a location that receives nonhazardous solid waste for the purposes of long-term or permanent storage; and
   2. "leachate" as any liquid containing chemicals or particles originating from the solid waste stored in a SWL;
2. Prohibits the construction of SWLs in ecologically important areas or areas where their normal operations would cause significant danger to the wellbeing of nearby permanent residents;
3. Forbids the long-term storage of nonhazardous solid waste in a manner or a location where it can pose a significant threat to the surrounding environment or groundwater;
4. Requires that all SWLs:
   1. include effective physical barriers designed to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from waste contained in them and leachate originating from them;
   2. include effective systems for the collection and removal of leachate for treatment and environmentally safe disposal; and
   3. are operated in such a way that minimizes potential environmental and health hazards resulting from their operations, within reason;
5. Mandates that member nations:
   1. ensure the regular testing of groundwater and other aquatic environments that could reasonably be affected by leachate in order to gauge the effectiveness of relevant existing SWL regulations and the need for further regulations; and
   2. establish, if such does not already exist, a state agency or similar organization with the responsibility of inspecting and regulating SWLs in accordance with this resolution and reviewing complaints regarding the operation of particular SWLs;
6. Clarifies that regulations implemented pursuant to this resolution must remain in effect after a SWL stops receiving additional waste material until such a time when said regulations are no longer effective or necessary in providing for the environmentally safe maintenance of the SWL site; and
7. Encourages member nations to promote methods of waste reduction to reduce their reliance on solid waste landfills as a form of waste management.

Nonhazardous Waste Disposal Act

Category: Regulation
Area of effect: Safety

The World Assembly,

Understanding the importance of landfills in providing a cost-effective method for the disposal of non-compostable and non-recyclable solid waste,

Concerned by the potential environmental and health hazards of solid waste landfills, and

Wishing to provide a regulatory framework for the safe operation of solid waste landfills to mitigate such hazards, and the general disposal of nonhazardous solid waste, hereby:

1. Defines for the purposes of this resolution:
   1. a "solid waste landfill" (SWL) as an artificially constructed site that receives nonhazardous solid waste for the purposes of long-term or permanent storage; and
   2. "leachate" as any liquid containing chemicals or particles originating from the solid waste stored in a SWL;
2. Prohibits the construction of SWLs in ecologically important areas or areas whose characteristics could reasonably be expected to interfere with the environmentally safe operation of a SWL;
3. Forbids the long-term storage or disposal of nonhazardous solid waste in a manner that poses a significant threat to the surrounding environment or groundwater;
4. Requires that all SWLs:
   1. include effective physical barriers designed to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from leachate;
   2. include effective systems for the collection and removal of leachate for treatment and environmentally safe disposal; and
   3. are operated in such a way that minimizes their environmental footprint;
5. Mandates that member nations:
   1. ensure the regular testing of any groundwater well that could reasonably be affected by leachate or other waste materials originating from a SWL;
   2. take reasonable measures to protect the surrounding environment after the closing of a SWL;
   3. establish, where none already exist, and utilize effective systems for the environmentally safe pre-disposal collection of nonhazardous solid waste not intended for recycling or composting in accordance with their economic capabilities; and
   4. establish, if such does not already exist, an agency or similar organization with the responsibility of inspecting and regulating SWLs in accordance with this resolution, implementing additional measures related to the operation of SWLs, and reviewing complaints regarding the operation of particular SWLs;
6. Encourages member nations to promote the recycling of waste where applicable.

Landfill Regulation Act

Category: Environmental
Area of effect: All Businesses - Mild

Understanding the importance of landfills in providing a cost-effective method for the disposal of non-compostable and non-recyclable solid waste,

Concerned by the potential environmental and health hazards of solid waste landfills, and

Wishing to provide a regulatory framework for the safe operation of solid waste landfills to mitigate such hazards, hereby:

1. Defines for the purposes of this resolution:
   1. a "solid waste landfill" (SWL) as a location that receives nonhazardous solid waste for the purposes of long-term or permanent storage; and
   2. "leachate" as any liquid containing chemicals or particles originating from the solid waste stored in a SWL;
2. Prohibits the construction of SWLs in ecologically important areas or areas whose characteristics could reasonably be expected to interfere with the environmentally safe operation of a SWL;
3. Requires that all SWLs:
   1. include physical barriers designed to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from leachate;
   2. include systems for the collection and removal of leachate for treatment and environmentally safe disposal; and
   3. are operated in such a way that minimizes their environmental footprint;
4. Mandates that member nations:
   1. ensure the regular testing of any groundwater well that could reasonably be affected leachate or other waste materials originating from an SWL;
   2. take reasonable measures to protect the surrounding environment after the closing of a SWL; and
   3. establish, if such does not already exist, an agency or similar organization with the responsibility of inspecting and regulating SWLs in accordance with this resolution, implementing additional measures related to the operation of SWLs, and reviewing complaints regarding the operation of particular SWLs.

Landfill Regulation Act

Category: Environmental
Area of effect: All Businesses = Mild

Noting the vast volumes of waste produced by the recreational, industrial, and other activities of the peoples of the world;

Understanding the importance of landfills in providing a cost-effective method for the disposal of solid waste;

Concerned, however, of the potential environmental and health fallout of solid waste landfills;

Wishing to provide a regulatory framework for the safe operation of solid waste landfills to address the above, hereby:

1. Defines for the purposes of this resolution:
   1. a "solid waste landfill" (SWL) as an area of land or excavation that receives household solid waste or other nonhazardous solid waste for the purposes of long-term disposal in that area;
   2. "leachate" as any liquid originating from waste stored within a SWL, or any liquid that has passed through said waste;
2. Mandates that member nations:
   1. prohibit the construction of SWLs in an area if that area possesses geographical characteristics, such as a nearby fault line or being located in a flood plain, which may reasonably interfere with the safe operation of a SWL;
   2. require SWLs to:
      1. include physical barriers designed to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from the release of leachate;
      2. contain systems for the collection and removal of leachate for treatment and disposal;
      3. have their waste compacted and frequently covered with soil or a similarly effective substitute for the purpose of reducing odor and protecting public health;
   3. ensure the frequent testing of any groundwater well that could reasonably be impacted by the operation of a SWL to determine whether waste materials have escaped from said SWL;
   4. establish a government agency or repurpose an existing agency with the responsibility of inspecting and regulating SWLs in accordance with this resolution, and reviewing complaints regarding the operation of SWLs, if no such agency exists which may perform its duties under this resolution satisfactorily;
3. Instructs member nations to take reasonable measures to protect the surrounding environment during and after the closing of a SWL;
4. Prohibits retaliation against an individual for making a complaint regarding the operation of a SWL to the responsible officials of a member nation, unless said complaint is clearly frivolous in nature.

Landfill Regulation Act

Category: Regulation
Area of effect: Safety

Noting the vast volumes of waste produced by the recreational, industrial, and other activities of the peoples of the world;

Understanding the importance of landfills in providing a cost-effective method for the disposal of solid waste;

Concerned, however, of the potential environmental and health fallout of solid waste landfills;

Wishing to provide a regulatory framework for the safe operation of solid waste landfills to address the above, hereby:

1. Defines for the purposes of this resolution:
   1. a "solid waste landfill" (SWL) as an area of land or excavation that receives household solid waste or other nonhazardous solid waste for the purposes of long-term disposal in that area;
   2. "leachate" as any liquid originating from waste stored within a SWL, or any liquid that has passed through said waste;
2. Establishes the Committee for Landfill Oversight (CLO), with the following responsibilities:
   1. surveying proposed SWL sites for potential environmental risk as a result of the construction of a landfill in that site;
   2. approving proposed SWL sites if the nature of said site does not present a significant risk of interfering with the safe operation of the landfill to be constructed there;
   3. approving plans for the construction and operation of SWLs if said plans are effective in their purpose and comply with this resolution;
   4. implementing regulations on the covering of SWLs and the maintenance of covered SWLs;
   5. implementing regulations on the control and cleanup of releases of SWL waste into the surrounding environment;
   6. conducting inspections of existing SWLs to ensure their compliance with this resolution;
   7. reviewing complaints regarding the operation of SWLs;
   8. assisting member nations with the implementation of additional measures relating to SWLs;
3. Mandates that an SWL:
   1. only be constructed if its construction is authorized by CLO in accordance with section 2 of this resolution;
   2. include physical barriers designed to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from the release of leachate;
   3. contain a system for the collection and removal of leachate for treatment and disposal;
   4. have its waste compacted and frequently covered with soil or a similarly effective substitute for the purpose of reducing odor and protecting public health;
   5. be accompanied by frequent testing of any groundwater well that could reasonably be impacted by the operation of the SWL to determine whether waste materials have escaped from said SWL;
4. Instructs member nations to take reasonable measures to ensure the protection of the surrounding environment during and after the closing of a SWL;
5. Prohibits retaliation against an individual for making a complaint to CLO.

[Honeydewistania]

I think an environmental category would be better suited.

[Cretox State]

I think an environmental category would be better suited.

OOC: The problem is that I can't think of any industries actually being directly impacted by more stringent landfill regulation. Regulation | Safety would work, since a big part of this proposal is ensuring that groundwater isn't contaminated (thereby protecting the general public).

[Honeydewistania]

I think an environmental category would be better suited.

OOC: The problem is that I can't think of any industries actually being directly impacted by more stringent landfill regulation. Regulation | Safety would work, since a big part of this proposal is ensuring that groundwater isn't contaminated (thereby protecting the general public).

Might get dinged for duplicating clause 2 of Preventing Groundwater Contamination

[Graintfjall]

“This proposal has not identified any transnational impact of solid waste landfills nor has it limited the scope of this overbearing committee to transnational impact, so our delegation will not be supporting it in its present form. Frankly, this is legislation that might not even belong at the national level in a federal system of government.

“Why are member nations, many of whom have no doubt been constructing solid waste landfills for decades,” Júlía Maria frowns and casts a sceptical eye towards a gaggle of more xenobiologically diverse delegates, “If not longer – why are they not capable of taking care of this themselves without needing some massive committee getting involved?”

-- Júlía Maria Jónsdóttir
Economic Advisor to the Græntfjall WA Mission

[Cretox State]

OOC: The problem is that I can't think of any industries actually being directly impacted by more stringent landfill regulation. Regulation | Safety would work, since a big part of this proposal is ensuring that groundwater isn't contaminated (thereby protecting the general public).

Might get dinged for duplicating clause 2 of Preventing Groundwater Contamination

Given that the resolution brought up "requires member states to plan future land use so that agricultural, industrial, and transportation pollutants will not present any measurable threat to the utility and potability of aquifers," while this proposal states: "include physical barriers designed to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from the release of leachate," I don't think duplication is really an issue. That said, I could be wrong.

[Flying Eagles]

This needs to be rewritten with the realization in mind that it is often our cities that are constructing these landfills, not us. Let them approve all of the landfills they want, and if there’s a problem with one, let someone appeal to a national tribunal. Landfills are likely not the WA’s business, and this resolution is too much micromanagement.

OOC: IRL, I live in a place where cities are responsible for landfills, not the country.

[Kenmoria]

“I agree with other ambassadors. Regulating landfills is done, at least in Kenmoria, by provincial rather than national government. This adds bureaucracy for no identifiable benefit. I suggest only targeting landfills of an exceptionally large size with those clauses.”

[Cretox State]

Draft 2 is up; I removed the committee.

[Flying Eagles]

Draft 2 is up; I removed the committee.

This draft is a massive improvement. However, 2a seems frivolous. If a landfill cannot meet the criteria of 2b, it cannot be in operation anyways without violating this resolution, so what does 2a do exactly?

On the other hand, if 2a is a catch-all for stuff not covered in this resolution, than the "in accordance with this resolution" needs to be removed as the restrictions are not in the resolution to begin with.

On the other hand, we may've not gotten enough sleep and may be talking nonsense.

[Cretox State]

Draft 2 is up; I removed the committee.

This draft is a massive improvement. However, 2a seems frivolous. If a landfill cannot meet the criteria of 2b, it cannot be in operation anyways without violating this resolution, so what does 2a do exactly?

On the other hand, if 2a is a catch-all for stuff not covered in this resolution, than the "in accordance with this resolution" needs to be removed as the restrictions are not in the resolution to begin with.

On the other hand, we may've not gotten enough sleep and may be talking nonsense.

"You're fine. We removed the "in accordance with this resolution."

[Flying Eagles]

This draft is a massive improvement. However, 2a seems frivolous. If a landfill cannot meet the criteria of 2b, it cannot be in operation anyways without violating this resolution, so what does 2a do exactly?

On the other hand, if 2a is a catch-all for stuff not covered in this resolution, than the "in accordance with this resolution" needs to be removed as the restrictions are not in the resolution to begin with.

On the other hand, we may've not gotten enough sleep and may be talking nonsense.

"You're fine. We removed the "in accordance with this resolution."

Thanks. For some reason, we’re really annoyed there isn’t a space above the first clause and in between the third and fourth clauses, and that there is one in between 2b and 2c.

[Cretox State]

Thanks. For some reason, we’re really annoyed there isn’t a space above the first clause and in between the third and fourth clauses, and that there is one in between 2b and 2c.

OOC: Interesting. It seems to be fine in the proposal submission page.

[Flying Eagles]

Thanks. For some reason, we’re really annoyed there isn’t a space above the first clause and in between the third and fourth clauses, and that there is one in between 2b and 2c.

OOC: Interesting. It seems to be fine in the proposal submission page.

Weird.

[Cretox State]

OOC: Bumping this.

[Kenmoria]

“Currently, clause 4 extends to frivolous complaints designed to waste money and time.”

[Cretox State]

“Currently, clause 4 extends to frivolous complaints designed to waste money and time.”

"That should fix it."

[Araraukar]

OOC: Should be Environmental. Could put it under All Businesses, since pretty much all RL businesses produce waste that would end up in landfills.

EDIT: Content comments to come later. Poke me in TGs if I forget.

[Kenmoria]

“Clause 2d should have ‘if none are already existent’ or similar wording.”

[Cretox State]

OOC: Should be Environmental. Could put it under All Businesses, since pretty much all RL businesses produce waste that would end up in landfills.

"Done."

“Clause 2d should have ‘if none are already existent’ or similar wording.”

"Also done."

[Tiramania]

I would rather just bury the landfill when it is full and then build over them. That might not be helpful to the environment, but at least we forget about the landfill

[Cretox State]

I would rather just bury the landfill when it is full and then build over them. That might not be helpful to the environment, but at least we forget about the landfill

OOC: That's... how landfills are usually closed, yes.

They should still be monitored for leachate release and groundwater pollution.

[Cretox State]

OOC: Bumping this.

[Araraukar]

OOC post.

Noting the vast volumes of waste produced by the recreational, industrial, and other activities of the peoples of the world;

Don't really need to specify where the waste comes from. Also, this isn't the best way to start. Or event a good thing to put in the preamble.

Understanding the importance of landfills in providing a cost-effective method for the disposal of solid waste;

Might want to specify non-compostable (possibly also non-recyclable) waste there. You might also want to start with this one. Don't be concerned about the origins of the waste, focus on the landfills.

Concerned, however, of the potential environmental and health fallout of solid waste landfills;

"Fallout" sounds very much out of place here. I'd suggest using "environmental and health hazards", as that's the RL terminology and sounds more professional.

Wishing to provide a regulatory framework for the safe operation of solid waste landfills to address the above,

"Addressing fallout" sounds even worse than "addressing hazards", but neither sounds correct. I'd suggest changing the ending to "...solid waste landfills to mitigate such hazards".

a "solid waste landfill" (SWL) as an area of land or excavation that receives household solid waste or other nonhazardous solid waste for the purposes of long-term disposal in that area;

Or just "as a location that receives non-hzardous solid waste for the purposes of long-term or permanent storage", that way you'll avoid creating loopholes.

"leachate" as any liquid originating from waste stored within a SWL, or any liquid that has passed through said waste;

So it has to be one or the other, not a combination? Howabout "as any liquid containing chemicals or particles originating from the solid waste stored in a SWL", as that catches solubles, solvents and bits and bobs all at the same time.

prohibit the construction of SWLs in an area if that area possesses geographical characteristics, such as a nearby fault line or being located in a flood plain, which may reasonably interfere with the safe operation of a SWL;

So in RL California (and the rest of Pacific coast of of continental Americas), or anywhere in the island nations in Southeast Asia (or the rest of Pacific Ocean), no landfills allowed? And you realize that "flood plain" is where most cities in the entire world are built, what with having been built near rivers? How are "fault lines" (what does that even mean in the context? "fault" can mean many things in geology, and some faults have not been active for a couple of billions of years, and "fault line" is a very specific type of fault, and would not actually catch many of the most active earthquake areas) or floodplains in any way an impediment to the "safe operation" of a landfill?

Wouldn't it be better to require the landfills are not built in ecologically important areas or in places that would put endangered organisms in danger of local extinction?

require SWLs to:

Given you define SWLs as areas, this doesn't really work, as areas of land are generally unable to perform any actions. Why are these even separate from mandates to the nations themselves?

include physical barriers designed to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from the release of leachate;

You don't want to protect them from the release of leachate but rather from the leachate itself.

contain systems for the collection and removal of leachate for treatment and disposal;

"Contain" is a bad word choice here, given the above subclause is specifically about containment of the leachate, I'd go with "operate" or just the same "include". I'd also add "environmentally safe" before "disposal".

have their waste compacted and frequently covered with soil or a similarly effective substitute for the purpose of reducing odor and protecting public health;

You know that normally parts of landfill are not covered with soil until there is not going to be more waste going into those parts? If you covered it with soil mid-operation and then removed the soil to add more waste, you would in essence churn the topsoil into the waste and/or spread the waste around as you dug it up again. And how is public health protected by covering it? Like, what's the specific concern you have in mind? Also, non-compostable waste doesn't really smell, the bad smells come from compostable waste being mixed with the non-compostable.

ensure the frequent testing of any groundwater well that could reasonably be impacted by the operation of a SWL to determine whether waste materials have escaped from said SWL;

"Regular" instead of "frequent", and "affected" instead of "impacted", and "by leachate emanating from the SWL" rather than the rest of the sentence. Waste materials don't escape and crawl into wells. At least in the RL reality. In some Lovecraftian one they might, but it's hard to legislate on Cthulhu's spawn anyway.

establish a government agency or repurpose an existing agency with the responsibility of inspecting and regulating SWLs in accordance with this resolution, and reviewing complaints regarding the operation of SWLs, if no such agency exists which may perform its duties under this resolution satisfactorily;

Why government agency? Why not just mandate that nations do so, and leave it up to the nation to decide if they want to do it by government agency, state department or private enterprise? I'd also make it "complaints regarding the operation of a particular SWL", so they don't have to waste time on generalized "I don't like landfills" complaints and such silliness. You want them to be able to correct and eliminate actual problems, not get swamped by internet trolls sending complaints for LOLs. Also, you can rewrite the establishment parts as "establish, if such does not already exist, an agency or similar organization with the responsibility", to streamline it a bit.

Instructs member nations to take reasonable measures to protect the surrounding environment during and after the closing of a SWL;

Just make it a requirement to avoid the whole "but instructions are not mandates" issue. Also, what does the "during" there mean? And what does "closing" mean? Do you mean to say that when a landfill's operation ceases - like if it's full, for instance, so no new waste is added - the area must be kept environmentally safe? If that's the purpose, you might want to reword it.

Prohibits retaliation against an individual for making a complaint regarding the operation of a SWL to the responsible officials of a member nation, unless said complaint is clearly frivolous in nature.

This is unnecessary, really, especially if you change the bit about complaints as I suggested. And no reasonable nation would "retaliate" against someone making non-frivolous complaints (and the unreasonable ones will find other ways to be unreasonable; it's impossible to plug all the loopholes).

[Cretox State]

OOC: Draft 3 is now up in accordance with suggestions.