HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1340

BYHouse Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Rust, Walker, Valle, Ferguson, Unsoeld, Brekke, Sprenkle, Holland, P. King, May, Pruitt, Lux, Spanel and Todd)

Creating an office of waste reduction.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, May, Pruitt, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Bonnie Austin (786- 7107)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 25, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The state's top waste management priority for both solid and hazardous waste is waste reduction.  Reducing the amount of waste generated results in both the reduction of potential liability for clean-ups and savings in disposal costs to businesses and governmental entities that generate waste.  Waste reduction also prevents further degradation of the environment and avoids the problem of multi-media pollution, where one type of pollution (i.e., solid waste) is reduced by increasing another type of pollution (i.e., air).

Over the past five years, at least ten states have implemented some type of waste reduction program.  These programs include such elements as education, technical assistance, excellence awards, and research grants.

In October of 1987 the Washington legislature enacted the state Hazardous Waste Cleanup (Superfund) law.  Superfund directs the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to contract out to a nonprofit organization the responsibility of establishing a Pollution Prevention Pays Program which will provide technical assistance to businesses that generate hazardous waste.  In addition to this program, Ecology provides other types of technical assistance relating to solid waste and hazardous waste.

SUMMARY:

There is established in Ecology an Office of Waste Reduction (Office) to encourage voluntary waste reduction by waste generators.  The Office shall be the coordinating center for all state agency programs that provide technical assistance to waste generators.  Waste generators include all individuals, businesses, governmental agencies, and other organizations that generate solid or hazardous waste.

To encourage voluntary waste reduction, the Office shall: (1) provide advice and consultation; (2) sponsor technical workshops and seminars; (3) administer a data base and hotline referral service; (4) administer a research and development program; (5) coordinate a public education program; and (6) develop higher education courses and curricula.

The director of Ecology is authorized to solicit and accept gifts and to enter into contracts.

The Office shall submit a quarterly progress report to the director of Ecology.  The director shall submit an annual progress report to the appropriate environmental standing committees of the legislature beginning December 31, 1988.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  The definition of "waste" is expanded to include air contaminants and water pollutants.  The Office of Waste Reduction shall require energy and incineration facilities to retain monitoring and operational data for a minimum of ten years after permanent closure.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 18, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Nancy Rust; David Smukowski, Boeing Co.; Nancy Pearson, Washington Citizens for Recycling; Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; Bruce Wishart, Sierra Club; Elizabeth Tabbutt, Washington Environmental Council; Roger vonGohren, Association of Washington Businesses.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This office would assist businesses in making fundamental process changes to reduce pollution at the source.  One office is needed to coordinate all the information available on waste reduction.  This bill is the carrot that provides an incentive for waste generators to reduce waste.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 93; Absent 1; Excused 4

Absent:     Representative Locke

Excused:    Representatives Belcher, Bumgarner, Smith C, Taylor