State Representative Barbara Gleim | Pennsylvania 199th Legislative District
State Representative Barbara Gleim | Pennsylvania 199th Legislative District
State Representative Barb Gleim, representing Cumberland, is actively addressing concerns about food processing residual (FPR) waste. This issue has been a point of contention for many of her constituents due to the odors and lack of regulations surrounding FPR.
FPR consists of waste from food manufacturing, including vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps, and cleaning wastewater containing blood, fat, hair, and feathers. In Pennsylvania, it is legally used on farmland to increase organic matter in the soil.
"FPR was one of the primary issues discussed at my annual Farmers Breakfast held back in the fall of 2023," said Gleim. "Fortunately, PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding was present for the breakfast and was able to hear firsthand the many concerns about this particular product used to fertilize agricultural lands."
Gleim's efforts extend beyond discussions at her Farmers Breakfast. She has attended local town halls and meetings and has been appointed to a statewide workgroup focused on addressing FPR challenges. Representatives Paul Schemel and Paul Friel are also involved in this workgroup.
"Several surrounding states have already put policies in place to deal with FPR," Gleim stated. "Right now, Pennsylvania is lagging behind."
During a recent House Appropriations Committee hearing, Secretary Redding highlighted the need for better regulation as current state laws are insufficient.
Gleim and her colleagues have developed a co-sponsorship memo and legislation aimed at updating the Solid Waste Management Act. The proposed updates include classifying different sources of FPR based on risk levels, requiring processing or testing for animal product-based FPRs before application on farmland, documenting nutrient content prior to application, involving local conservation districts in reviewing application plans, licensing brokers and haulers by the Commonwealth, and determining oversight processes.
The last meeting of the workgroup took place on February 29th with plans for another meeting at the end of March to finalize legislative details.
Representative Barbara Gleim199th Legislative DistrictPennsylvania House of RepresentativesMedia Contact: Tricia Lehman717.772.9840
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