Public Hearing on Waste Transfer Station Zoning Amendment - February 6, 2026
Public Hearing on Waste Transfer Station Zoning Amendment - February 6, 2026
A public hearing was held before the Pittsburgh City Council on February 6, 2026, to consider Bill 2025-2385, which would amend the Zoning Code to add a definition for "Waste Transfer Station" and associated use standards, including a 500-foot buffer from residential and commercial districts, schools, and parks. The hearing included an overview by the Department of City Planning, a presentation by Councilwoman Warwick, public testimony from Republic Services (the owner of the Hazelwood facility), and legal arguments. No vote was taken; the bill was referred to the standing committee on Land Use and Economic Development.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lori Kolczynski (General Manager, BFI Waste Services of Pennsylvania / Republic Services) opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it targets the Hazelwood facility. She highlighted that Republic Services operates 246 transfer stations nationwide and that the city's Roadmap to Zero Waste identified Hazelwood as an appropriate location. She stated the 500-foot setback (vs. state's 300-foot) would effectively eliminate the only permitted transfer station in the city, and urged the council not to close this opportunity. She noted financial benefits (over $1 million annual savings in fuel and maintenance) and offered to collaborate with the city and community.
- Christopher Voltz (Attorney, Tucker Arensburg, on behalf of Republic Services and a city resident) argued the bill violates Act 101 of 1988 (Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act) by being inconsistent with state regulations (25 PA Code §279.202) which set a 300-foot buffer with a waiver provision. He stated the 500-foot buffer without a waiver is preempted by state law and works against the city's duty to assure proper waste transfer. He requested the bill be put on hold for more research.
- Councilwoman Warwick noted that approximately 50 residents attended the Planning Commission hearing on December 2, 2025, and about 15 testified about living near the Hazelwood industrial site, citing odors, rodents, and truck traffic as environmental justice concerns.
Discussion Items
- Department of City Planning Overview: Staff presented the background: the bill was introduced on October 22, 2025, referred to the Planning Commission, which held a hearing on December 2, 2025, and recommended positive modifications. The definition was revised to exclude recycling facilities and other reuse activities. Use standard three was clarified to reference "uses or zoning districts." A 500-foot buffer (vs. state's 300-foot) was proposed based on other jurisdictions' precedents. The Research drew from the city's 2017 Roadmap to Zero Waste, which noted the need for a city waste transfer station to reduce hauling distances (currently up to 34 miles to Imperial landfill) and greenhouse gas emissions. The city's Department of Public Works flagged a transfer station as a priority.
- Councilwoman Warwick's Presentation: She explained that Pittsburgh currently lacks a municipal solid waste transfer station; drivers must take non-recyclable waste directly to Imperial (~20 miles away). She highlighted the need for zoning guidance before any facility is built, and emphasized the 500-foot buffer to protect residents from litter, noise, odor, pests, and traffic. She showed photos of the Hazelwood recycling facility (not a waste transfer station) to illustrate proximity to homes and argued that a 300-foot buffer, as in state regulations, is insufficient. She noted the bill does not apply to existing uses.
- Legal and Financial Arguments: Republic Services' representatives contended that the 500-foot buffer is targeted at their Hazelwood site and that the bill would effectively bar any transfer station in the city, contradicting the city's own fleet needs. Councilwoman Warwick countered that the Planning Commission heard strong community testimony and that the bill is about preventing future environmental injustice.
Key Outcomes
- No vote was taken on Bill 2025-2385 during the public hearing.
- The bill was referred to the standing Committee on Land Use and Economic Development for further consideration, with a directive to put it on the next week's agenda.
- The public hearing was adjourned after all registered speakers and council comments were completed.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to Pittsburgh City Council's Cablecast Public Hearing for Friday, February sixth, two thousand twenty-six, relative to Bill Twenty Three Eighty Five. Would the clerk please read the title of the bill? Zoning Code Article Five use regulations. Chapter nine eleven primary uses to add a definition for waste transfer station and standards associated with the use. Thank you very much. Our first order of business will be an introduction by the Department of City Planning. Kate, if you would, or whomever, if you would introduce yourselves and give an overview. Good morning. Thank you, Council. I'll uh provide an overview and then turn it back over to Council. Good morning. This is uh legislation amending the Pittsburgh Zoning Code to add a definition for a waste transfer station and associated use standards introduced to city council and referred to the city planning commission for its report and recommendation on October 22nd, 2025. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed legislation on December 2nd, 2025, where the Commission made a positive recommendation to City Council on the proposed zoning text amendment. A copy of the Commission Planning Commission's report is attached to the materials forwarded to the council. Public notice for this hearing was posted on January 15, 2026, in line with the 21-day noticing requirement. Upon conclusion of the public hearing, the bill may be enacted with five affirmative votes. I will now read in the report and the motions from the Planning Commission. Council Bill 2025 2385 to add a definition and use standards for a waste transfer station was referred to planning commission on October 22nd, 2025 for a report and recommendation. Prior to introduction of the legislation, City Council worked with Councilwoman Warwick's office on potential language for the new use. This research was conducted in September and October of 2025. The research looked at existing city policies, state requirements for transfer station uses, and how other jurisdictions regulate the use. This research is summarized in the report attachments. The city developed a report, roadmap to zero waste in 2020 in 2017 that, among other measures to decrease waste, outlines the need for the city to have its own waste transfer station. The report notes that trash is currently hauled up to 34 miles away after each truck is filled, leading to routing inefficiencies and increased greenhouse gas emissions from refused vehicles. One of the potential action items in the roadmap to zero waste report states that transfer station ownership could be private, public, or a public-private partnership. The report notes that Republic Services, the owner of the Hazelwood facility has expressed interest in building one in the past. City planning staff met with the Department of Public Works on October 24th, 2025. At that meeting, DPW noted that having a waste transfer station is a priority of theirs. As part of the city's ongoing comprehensive plan efforts, discussions have been held, noting the need for a waste transfer station use within the city to help streamline operations. It is important to note that the comprehensive plan has not yet been adopted. For this report, city staff researched how other jurisdictions define waste transfer station uses. These definitions are summarized in attachment one of the report. As part of the proposed legislation, the Planning Commission recommended a modification to the language of the definition to mention that waste transfer station uses would exclude recycling facilities and other uses intended to remove andor reuse material from the solid waste stream. Waste transfer station uses are regulated by the State Department of Environmental Protection. These regulations include siting requirements, such as distances from nearby uses, property boundaries, wetlands, and floodplains, and requirements for operational plans, including soil and groundwater monitoring and nuisance and litter control. A summary of the state requirements are included in attachment two of the report. The proposed legislation includes a 500-foot buffer around residential and commercial zoning districts, as well as schools and parks, where waste transfer station use would be would not be permitted. A map of the 500 foot buffer areas is included in attachment three of their report. In a discussion with the councilwoman on November 7th, 2025, it was clarified that use standard three that designates distance requirements from waste transfer stations to surrounding areas should reference uses as well as zoning districts. The planning commission has recommended a modification to clarify this. The Planning Commission looked at requirements from other jurisdictions and states for precedent for the 500-foot buffer. Attachments four and five of the report include states and jurisdictions where specific buffer requirements are noted. The commission consulted additional use standards from other jurisdictions. Please see attachment six of the report for those. The commission also looked at jurisdictions that have built new modern transfer stations and how transfer stations are incorporated into the built environment to showcase how a newer facility may be able to better fit with Pittsburgh's urban fabric than a traditional model of a transfer station that requires requires extensive setbacks and buffering. An example of the Seattle North transfer station is included in attachment seven. In its review of Council Bill 2025, 2385 on December 2nd, 2025 to add waste transfer station to add a waste transfer station definition and use standards. The planning commission made the following motions that the definition be revised to state the following. Waste transfer station means a supplemental transportation facility used as an adjunct to solid waste route collection vehicles for the primary purpose of moving the solid waste from the collection vehicles to other vehicles for further transfer. This excludes recycling facilities and other and other uses intended to remove and or reuse material from the solid waste stream.
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