Friel bill to guide use of food processing residuals in Pa. passes House
H.B. 586 would update FPR manual, provide oversights for noxious odors, water contamination risks
Rep. Paul Friel April 16, 2026 | 4:32 PM
HARRISBURG, April 16 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday passed H.B. 586, which would responsibly guide the use of food processing residuals in the state, announced the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester.
Food processing residuals, also known as FPR, are the leftover products created by commercial food processing. They can include vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps, and liquid waste from cleaning processes that might contain blood, fat, hair, feathers, and a variety of other vegetable and animal byproducts, as well as chemicals used in processing.
Surrounding states have heavily restricted or banned the use of these residuals, making Pennsylvania a target for the cheap disposal of this commercial waste stream.
"We don't know what is coming in or how much is being applied,” Friel explained during House debate. “We have more regulation on manure in Pennsylvania than we do on this unknown waste stream coming into our state. We need these guardrails to protect our communities and, most especially, our farms and farmers."
The bill passed 172–29, with broad Republican and Democratic support, underscoring just how nonpartisan concerns about noxious odors and water contamination are in Pennsylvania.
“I want to thank my many colleagues who have supported this effort, including Rep. Barb Gleim and former Rep. Paul Schemel, who worked with me on this legislation from the start,” Friel said. “I look forward to more bipartisan collaboration on the bill in the Senate, and hopefully it will ultimately reach the governor’s desk.”
Currently, if a hauler or operator states they will comply with the Food Processing Residual Management Manual issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, there is no additional regulation or oversight. The FPR manual has not been updated since June 1994 and is, according to Friel, woefully outdated. House Bill 586 would require updates.
Meanwhile, hauler-broker certifications provided for in H.B. 587 were passed earlier this legislative session, also with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle.
“These two bills offer a lasting legislative solution built through bipartisan cooperation and valuable input from the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, as well as local residents, farmers, conservation experts, and industry leaders,” Friel said. “It’s essential that FPR be managed responsibly to protect our food supply, enhance soil health, safeguard groundwater, and reduce odors and other impacts on our communities.”
Both H.B.s 586 and 587 are now with the Senate, where they are expected to continue to move through the legislative process.