House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2025 - 2026 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 13, 2024 10:39 AM
From:	Representative Paul Friel and Rep. Barbara Gleim, Rep. Paul Takac, Rep. Danilo Burgos, Rep. Shelby Labs
To:	All House members
Subject:	Keeping Farms and Communities Safe by Managing Residual Food Processing Waste & Certification for FPR Haulers and Brokers

In recent years, residents from a number of municipalities in the commonwealth have been harmed by the application of noxious food processing residual (FPR) on farmland, including impacts from groundwater and well contamination issues. FPR is exactly what it sounds like- waste left over from food manufacturing, which can include vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps, and liquid like cleaning wastewater that includes blood, fat, hair, and feathers.

In Pennsylvania, FPR can legally be applied to farmland as an inexpensive way to increase the amount of organic matter in soil, but it can also be a way to more cheaply dispose of this waste than traditional removal. Our surrounding states have largely banned the practice, which means Pennsylvania is being targeted by out of state companies looking to dump their waste for a reduced cost.

Currently, if someone complies with the Food Processing Residual Management Manual issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), there is no other regulation or oversight. However, there is no mechanism for identifying and addressing when someone is not applying FPR in accordance with that manual. There is also no tracking of the source of FPR, no testing of FPR, and no central complaint system for people who object to the impact of FPR on their homes and livelihoods. The FPR manual has not been updated since June 1994 and is woefully outdated.

Over the last couple of years there has been a concerted effort by bipartisan members of the legislature, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and a number of other stakeholder groups to identify and recommend changes such as updating the Food Processing Residual Management Manual and to bring forward legislation to ensure that FPR can still be applied to farmland or stored where appropriate and, when needed, to ensure that FPR can be processed to eliminate any negative impact that it could cause.

Only by taking these actions can we protect both Pennsylvania farms AND Pennsylvania residents. We ask that you please join us in co-sponsoring this important and timely legislation.

Document #1

Description:	Keeping Farms and Communities Safe by Managing Residual Food Processing Waste We will soon be re-introducing legislation that will amend the Solid Waste Management Act to: Differentiate between various sources of FPR and create a classification based upon their potential risk to farms and community; and then use these distinct categories of FPR to guide safe storage, handling, and application requirements of that FPR material. Require FPR that is sourced from animal products or animal product waste to be processed by a digester or another means of odor control before allowing it to be stored on farms or be used as FPR; Require documentation of the makeup of FPR and nutrients to be provided prior to being applied to farmland; Require the nutrient levels of FPR to be included with any application plan before being applied to farmland; and Require notice of the creation of an application plan to the local conservation district before FPR is applied to farmland

Document #2

Description:	Certification for FPR Haulers and Brokers We will soon be re-introducing legislation that will create the FPR Hauler Broker Act to: Provide for a certification and training program for haulers and brokers of food processing residual waste for application or storage in the Commonwealth.

Memo Updated: December 13, 2024 11:54 AM