SB581 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Trip Pittman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Baldwin Co., county-owned solid waste landfills, only landfills which may be used for the disposal of garbage, household waste, industrial solid waste, and solid waste in county, certain contracts and disposal of certain inert debris and construction materials by municipalities exempt, on-site and privately owned industrial landfills exempt, criminal penalties for violations, rates regulated, Baldwin County Solid Waste Management Authority, established, penalties, implementation and administration by local law authorized, const. amend. (2010-20977)
Summary: SB581 would amend the Alabama Constitution to require Baldwin County to use only county-owned landfills for most waste disposal, create a county waste authority, set rate rules, and sunset the measure after three years unless extended locally.
What This Bill Does
It proposes a constitutional change to limit disposal in Baldwin County to county-owned landfills (with exemptions for certain inert debris and construction materials). It exempts existing contracts, on-site and privately owned industrial landfills, and waste handled by municipalities under specified arrangements. It creates a Baldwin County Solid Waste Management Authority to advise on operations, rates, recycling, and related functions, with local laws to implement the provisions, and subjects violations to misdemeanor penalties; the measure would automatically terminate three years after ratification unless extended by unanimous local action.

Who It Affects
Baldwin County residents and ratepayers: potential changes in where waste can be disposed and in disposal rates, with a cap tied to nearby counties' rates.
Baldwin County municipalities: new authority oversight and potential changes to waste management practices; at least two mayors must serve on the Authority; some existing contracts are exempt.
On-site and privately owned industrial landfill operators: exempt if they receive only on-site or permit-holder waste.
Waste collection and disposal contractors and entities with pre-2009 contracts: exemptions for those existing contracts and programs; ongoing operations may be affected by the new framework.
Adjacent counties and landfill operators: rate comparisons to surrounding counties are part of the new rate rules.

Key Provisions
Only county-owned solid waste landfills may be used in Baldwin County for disposal of garbage, household waste, industrial solid waste, and solid waste, with exemptions for inert debris and construction materials.
Exemptions: contracts in effect on December 1, 2009; disposal of inert debris and construction materials; on-site and privately owned industrial landfills that receive only on-site waste or permit-holder waste.
Rate provision: county disposal rates at county landfills may not exceed gate rates charged by publicly or privately owned landfills in surrounding counties with similar volumes.
Baldwin County Solid Waste Management Authority: five members, at least two mayors from Baldwin County municipalities; authority to recommend operation methods, communications, rates, recycling programs, revenue sharing, and other landfill functions.
Implementation and administration: local acts of the Legislature may provide for implementation and administration of the amendment and any implementing local laws.
Sunset provision: the amendment and implementing local laws terminate automatically three years after ratification unless extended by a unanimous vote of the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation.
Enforcement: violations are a misdemeanor with fines of $50 to $200 per offense, with each continuing day constituting a separate offense.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Baldwin County