Bill Text: MA S410 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced
Bill Title: Ensure the safety of organic compost
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-08-19 - Accompanied a study order, see S02610 [S410 Detail]
Download: Massachusetts-2009-S410-Introduced.html
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
PRESENTED BY:
Mark C. Montigny
_______________
To the
Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act to Ensure the Safety of Organic Compost.
_______________
PETITION OF:
|
Name: |
District/Address: |
|
Mark C. Montigny |
Second Bristol and Plymouth |
|
Steven A. Tolman |
Second Suffolk and Middlesex |
The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
_______________
In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
_______________
An Act to Ensure the Safety of Organic Compost.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words shall unless the context clearly requires otherwise have the following meanings:
"Compost", a mixture that consists aerobically decomposed organic matter and that is used for fertilizing and conditioning agricultural soils.
"Fertilizer", a single or blended substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrient(s) used primarily for its plant nutrient content claimed to have value in promoting plant growth.
“Person”, a natural person, corporation, association, partnership, government body or other legal entity.
“Sludge”, any solid, semisolid or liquid waste generated from a municipal, commercial or industrial wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or any other such waste having similar characteristics and effects.
"Sewage sludge", the solids resulting from wastewater treatment operations and processes that are usually in the form of a semisolid liquid.
"Biosolids", a term used to describe sewage sludge processed by further digestion, drying, composting, or the addition of lime.
Section 2. Notwithstanding any general or special rules or laws to the contrary, it is hereby unlawful in the Commonwealth for any person to sell, market, or distribute compost or fertilizer containing sewage sludge or products derived from sewage sludge such as biosolids that are labeled as "organic" or "made from recovered organic materials” or that uses the word "organic" in any way related to the marketing of the product. The department of environmental protection is hereby authorized and directed to establish a plan to educate consumers about the toxins contained in sewage sludge and biosolids and the possible environmental and health issues associated with the use of these products and establish a take back mechanism for consumers.
Section 3. Whoever violates any provisions of sections 2 may be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 for each day the violation remains outstanding.
