In January 2026, a bill was introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives that would have eliminated all 20 Solid Waste Districts across the state, including Region D. That’s when solid waste planners and solid waste district advocates got to work educating the public about the history, purpose and importance of the districts’ decades-old work to keep hazardous and recyclable waste from going to the landfill and support local recycling programs that collect recyclable materials like aluminum, glass and paper.
Solid waste district boards, staff and supporters were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief last Friday evening as the legislative session officially ended with no impacts to the state’s 20 solid waste programs after months of advocacy and a dozen iterations of the bill—which began with language that would have completely defunded solid waste districts and by the end of the session ultimately would have cut nearly 20 percent of 13 solid waste district budgets.
Senate Bill 1586 didn’t make it out of the House or to the Governor’s desk this year, but the fight to save the districts and continue their work is far from over. It is fully anticipated that next year’s session will bring about similar legislation to upend the longtime work of the districts. In the meantime, the work to help Missourians reduce, reuse and recycle goes on.
Thanks to everyone for your support! https://dnr.mo.gov/…/solid-waste-management-districts
-the Region D Recycling and Solid Waste Management Board and staff
