Signed! Bipartisan Bill to Mitigate Environmental Damage from Landfills Becomes Law

HB23-1194 invests $15 million to help local communities mitigate environmental risks of closed landfills

DENVER, CO – Gov. Polis today signed bipartisan legislation to help local communities mitigate environmental damage caused by landfills. HB23-1194 invests $15 million toward a statewide grant program to support communities to reduce environmental and public health risks surrounding closed landfills.

“I’m proud to champion this bipartisan legislation today to keep rural Coloradans safe from health hazards caused by closed landfills,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “No Coloradan should have to worry about health and safety issues stemming from landfills, and many local governments lack the financial resources to properly remediate them. This law, which responds to concerns from communities in Southwest Colorado, ensures our landfills will comply with state and federal laws to keep everyone safe from contaminants that damage our water, soil and ecosystems.”

HB23-1194, sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Rose Pugliese, helps local governments by supporting the environmental remediation and management of closed landfills. Specifically, this bill allocates $15 million to create the Closed Landfill Remediation Grant Program Fund to help communities mitigate hazardous environments caused by older landfills that are no longer accepting new waste. This bipartisan legislation will keep Colorado communities safe and healthy by mitigating the harmful environmental effects of closed landfills.

Some environmental risk factors that can be caused by closed landfills include groundwater, soil and farmland contamination, hazardous gas accumulation and exposure to dangerous chemicals.