Section 7.473. Development of the Plan

(a) Preparation of Plan. The Department of Environmental Resources shall prepare, adopt and periodically revise a Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Management Plan (Plan) under this subchapter and section 104(3) of the Solid Waste Management Act (35 P. S. § 6018.104(3)). The Plan will incorporate and assess the information required in county plans adopted under the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (53 P. S. § § 4000.101—4000.1904). The Department will develop a proposed Plan by September 26, 1991.

(b) Waste generation. The Plan will contain information and planning concerning the generation, management, processing and disposal of municipal waste in this Commonwealth for a period of 10 years from the development of the Plan which will include the following, at a minimum:

(1) The Plan will identify regional areas of the Commonwealth and assess the estimated volume and waste characterization for municipal waste generated in each region.

(2) The Plan will contain information and planning concerning the effect of residual waste disposal on municipal waste management within each region of this Commonwealth. These effects shall include the environmental and economic effects of residual waste disposal at municipal waste facilities, in addition to the effects of residual waste disposal on capacity planning.

(3) The Plan will assess the annual impact of demographic changes and municipal waste recycling, beneficial use and waste reduction on the need for processing and disposal capacity for municipal waste generated in each region of this Commonwealth, and a fair share of processing and disposal capacity for waste generated outside of this Commonwealth.

(c) Waste volume planning. The Plan will summarize the present volume of municipal waste from each county and region that is being processed or disposed at permitted facilities. The Plan will assess the projected municipal waste flow provided for in county plans approved by the Department for each region and for each permitted facility.

(d) Capacity planning. The Plan will assess the annual need for processing and disposal capacity for municipal waste generated in this Commonwealth by region. The Plan will include an assessment of existing permitted municipal waste processing and disposal capacity in this Commonwealth and estimate the maximum future lifespan of the facilities. The Plan will estimate a fair share of processing and disposal capacity allowed for waste generated outside of this Commonwealth. To the greatest extent feasible, the Plan will reduce the burden of municipal waste disposal on the environment by planning to reduce the need for new municipal waste disposal facilities.

(e) Waste management hierarchy. The Plan will designate and implement a waste management hierarchy for each type of material in the municipal waste stream. To the greatest extent feasible, the preference order in the hierarchy will be waste reduction, then reuse, recycling, beneficial use and energy recovery in lieu of incineration or disposal of waste.