Environment (Waste Management)

HB 4413 requires facilities burning hospital, medical, or infectious waste to comply with existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air emission standards. It prohibits any facility not meeting current EPA standards, monitoring, reporting, and permitting requirements from burning such waste in Oklahoma. The bill directly affects municipal solid waste incinerators that handle medical waste, mandating they align with federal rules or cease this activity. The law takes effect November 1, 2026, and codifies EPA definitions for medical waste as used in 40 C.F.R. §60.51c.

SB 1471 authorizes Oklahoma cities and towns to levy targeted fees on retail delivery, single-use products, and plastic containers to fund solid waste management. These fees must be narrowly tailored to actual waste generation costs and can be charged per transaction or delivery. Revenue from these fees is restricted to specific waste management uses, including collection, recycling, litter cleanup, public education, and reducing environmental harm from waste. The bill also modifies plastic container labeling rules to clarify that local governments cannot broadly restrict plastic use, but may implement narrowly focused waste-reduction fees.

SB 271 creates Oklahoma's first state-level regulatory framework for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), focusing on waste disposal. It protects specific entities like public water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, fire departments using PFAS-containing AFFF foam, and airports from civil liability for PFAS releases - unless they violated regulations or acted with gross negligence. The bill requires the Environmental Quality Board to establish rules for PFAS waste handling, mandates fees for disposal (replacing tonnage fees), and requires permits for facilities processing over 200 pounds of AFFF waste daily. It also sets standards for classifying out-of-state PFAS waste and declares an emergency to expedite implementation.

HB 1726 bans the land application, sale, or distribution of biosolids (treated sewage byproducts) and related products containing perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as fertilizers, soil amendments, or mulch in Oklahoma. It directly affects wastewater treatment facilities, agricultural businesses, and farmers who previously used these materials. Key provisions include exemptions for food-processing compost (e.g., from fruits or grains), manure, and lined landfill disposal, while requiring the Department of Environmental Quality to enforce environmental rules and develop a remediation funding plan for PFAS contamination. The bill also mandates a 2025 report on long-term alternatives for safely managing biosolids and septage.