NWRA Urges Congress, Admin to Include Waste Collection in Emergency Declaration

NWRA Staff

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) urged Congress and the Trump administration to include the waste collection industry in the national emergency declaration, exempting waste haulers from hours of service (HOS) regulations.

NWRA also sent a letter to Jim Mullen, acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), petitioning the agency to exempt the regulated medical waste sector from Parts 390-399 of FMCSA regulations. NWRA also sent to Congress draft legislative language that would amend federal law to include waste collection haulers in the FMCSA HOS exemption when the president declares a national emergency.

“History has shown that where there is poor sanitation, disease and illness spread. We urge Congress and President Trump to take action on our requests to ensure that doesn’t happen now or during future national emergencies,” said Darrell Smith, NWRA president and CEO, in a statement.

NWRA continues to follow developments closely and has provided guidance to its members to address safe handling of waste during the COVID-19 pandemic.