Washington State Proposes Bill To Sell Cannabis Waste Rather Than Dumping, Reducing Methane Emissions
Washington House lawmakers approved a bill recently to allow for the public sale of marijuana plant waste such as stalks, leaves, roots and stems with less than 0.3% THC. This waste will not be used for consumption but rather for composting and various hemp-related products like hempcrete and hemp fiber, reported Spokesman.
These parts of the cannabis plant, not considered dangerous waste under state law, often end up in landfills, creating methane gas as they decompose. This legislation, therefore, follows up on a 2022 law seeking to lower methane emissions by diverting 75% of organic materials from landfills.
Under state law, marijuana waste must be ground and mixed with a minimum of 50% of other materials like wood chips or sawdust to enable adequate disposal, which then increases the amount of organic waste and methane gas emitted, said Heather Trim, executive director at …