Departments
Health and Human Services
Bucks County Health Department
-- Main -- BioTerrorism -- Bureau of Personal Health -- Bureau of Environmental Health --
Bureau of Environmental Health
Solid Waste Management
Andrew Schafer: Acting Chief, Environmental Engineering Division
The Department reviews permits for solid waste management programs in Bucks
County for the Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) according
to the Solid Waste Management Act, Act 97 of 1980; the Municipal Waste Planning,
Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, Act 101 of 1988; and the Municipal Waste
Management Rules and Regulations of April 9, 1988 (rev. 2000). Section 106
of Act 97 of 1980 confers power and duty to the County Health Department
to administer and enforce any provisions of the Act in accordance with policy
and procedures, and regulations established by PA DEP.
The Environmental Engineering Division has an ongoing advisory role
to PA DEP for permit review of the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Planning,
Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1980 (Act 97). Section 504 of
Act 97 requires that all applications for solid waste facility permits,
for both municipal landfills and private solid waste facilities,
are reviewed by the County Health Department which must make recommendations
to PA DEP within 60 days. Each year the Department advises DEP regarding
dozens of environmental health and hazardous waste issues at sites
under the PA DEP Solid Waste Management Program.
The Engineering Division staff and the Environmental Sanitation
Division staff investigate complaints on harmful environmental conditions
involving solid waste management and will issue citations. Or, where
the existing regulations of this Department are inadequate or inappropriate
to handle the situation, they will report instances to the PA DEP
Regional Office for follow-up and enforcement.
The Environmental Engineering Division also reviews the Bucks County
Planning Commission county waste management plan when it is submitted
to the County Health Department that is required by Section 503 (c)
of Act 101.