Municipalities are prohibited from enacting stricter standards than those contained in this chapter and in the solid waste management rules adopted pursuant to this chapter governing the hydrogeological criteria for siting or designing solid waste disposal facilities or governing the engineering criteria related to waste handling and disposal areas of a solid waste disposal facility. Except as provided in section 2173, municipalities are further prohibited from enacting or applying ordinances that regulate solid waste disposal facilities owned by the State or a state agency or a regional association.   [PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. GG, §15 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. GG, §70 (AFF).]

Under the municipal home rule authority granted by the Constitution of Maine, Article VIII, Part Second and Title 30‑A, section 3001, municipalities, except as provided in this section, may enact ordinances with respect to solid waste facilities that contain standards the municipality finds reasonable, including, without limitation, conformance with federal and state solid waste rules; fire safety; traffic safety; levels of noise heard outside the facility; distance from existing residential, commercial or institutional uses; ground water protection; surface water protection; erosion and sedimentation control; and compatibility of the solid waste facility with local zoning and land use controls, provided that the standards are not more strict than those contained in this chapter and in chapter 3, subchapter I, articles 5‑A and 6 and the rules adopted under these articles. Municipal ordinances must use definitions consistent with those adopted by the board.   [PL 1995, c. 126, §2 (AMD).]

A municipality adopting an ordinance under this section shall forward a copy of the ordinance to the commissioner within 30 days of its adoption.   [PL 1989, c. 890, Pt. A, §40 (AFF); PL 1989, c. 890, Pt. B, §251 (AMD).]