Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Environment Committee |
HB 2914
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning Washington's economic development potential as a world leader in the responsible management of postconsumer materials.
Sponsors: Representatives Smith, Fitzgibbon, Doglio and Senn.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/29/18
Staff: Jacob Lipson (786-7196).
Background:
Under the state's solid waste management laws, local governments are the primary government entity responsible for implementing state solid waste management requirements, although the Department of Ecology (ECY) also has certain roles in overseeing the administration of solid waste management laws. The ECY is responsible for working cooperatively with local governments as they develop their local solid waste management plans, including through the development of guidelines to be used by local governments that recommend materials for local government designation as recyclable.
The ECY evaluates, analyzes, and monitors the solid waste stream. As part of this effort, collectors of solid waste must annually report to the ECY the types and quantities of waste they collect, and the locations where they deliver that waste. The ECY's solid waste stream analysis must incorporate specified types of information and evaluations, including the waste generation and recycling rates for different waste categories, potential rates of solid waste reduction, and solid waste technologies. In developing their solid waste stream evaluation, the ECY must prioritize the evaluation of categories of waste that comprise a comparatively large volume of the solid waste stream, or that present a risk of harm to human health.
The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) supervises and regulates private solid waste companies, including reviewing and approving their rates and fees. Cities and towns also sometimes directly provide solid waste collection services.
Summary of Bill:
Economic Analysis.
The Department of Commerce (COM) must arrange for the completion of an economic analysis of recyclable material and solid waste processing, export, and disposal in Washington. The analysis must consider opportunities and barriers to existing solid waste and recycling businesses and the implications of recent recycling market changes in the Western United States. The COM analysis may not result in the publication of confidential business information.
The COM analysis must be submitted in a report to the Legislature by December 1, 2019. Alongside the report, the COM must also submit recommendations regarding:
changes to state solid waste and recycling policies with a goal of increasing material recycling and disposal in Washington or jurisdictions with similar solid waste practices; and
the development of a statewide public outreach strategy led by the UTC to reduce recyclable material contamination rates.
The COM's recommendations must be developed with the UTC, the ECY, and with stakeholders.
Ecology Guidelines.
The ECY must develop guidelines to help counties and cities reduce recycling contamination rates and to promote statewide best practices that may be categorized based on the size of local governments or other factors. The ECY must update the guidelines periodically to reflect changes in recycling markets.
Solid Waste Evaluations.
The ECY's state solid waste stream analysis must prioritize the evaluation of categories of solid waste that present economic opportunities for material recovery, recycling, and reuse, alongside the existing prioritized categories of solid waste that are high-volume or present a health risk.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 23, 2018.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.