H-4109.2

HOUSE BILL 2914


State of Washington	65th Legislature	2018 Regular Session

By Representatives Smith, Fitzgibbon, Doglio, and Senn

Read first time 01/24/18. Referred to Committee on Environment.

AN ACT Relating to Washington's economic development potential as a world leader in the responsible management of postconsumer materials; amending RCW 70.95.290; adding a new section to chapter 70.95 RCW; and creating new sections.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature intends for Washington to continue to be a leader in economically and environmentally sustainable management of recyclable materials and solid waste. In this act, the legislature intends to underscore the state's accountability for the waste it generates and to inform more widespread public understanding of the realities and challenges of recyclable material collection as a part of solid waste management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The department of commerce shall arrange for the completion of an economic analysis of recyclable material and solid waste processing, export, and disposal activities in Washington. The analysis must include:

(a) An overview of the existing businesses that derive value from processing recyclable materials or solid wastes into saleable products and an evaluation of opportunities and barriers to the expansion of the number and types of these businesses in the state. This overview must not result in the publication of confidential business information; and

(b) An evaluation of the implications of recent recycling market changes in the western United States on recycling rates and on businesses collecting and processing recyclable materials in Washington.

(2) By December 1, 2019, the analysis required in subsection (1) of this section must be submitted in a report to the legislature consistent with the requirements of RCW 43.01.036. The analysis must be accompanied by recommendations from the department of commerce regarding:

(a) Changes to state recycling and solid waste policies, with the goal of increasing the amount of recyclable materials and solid waste generated in Washington that end up being processed or disposed of in Washington or in other places where postconsumer materials are managed with economically and environmentally sustainable practices; and

(b) The development of a public outreach strategy, led by the utilities and transportation commission, that is statewide in scope but that accommodates the variation in local government collection activities and local community considerations, and that is designed to reduce rates of contamination of recyclable materials and improve consumer education regarding their role in solid waste management.

(3) The department of commerce must develop the recommendations in subsection (2) of this section in consultation with the utilities and transportation commission, the department of ecology, an association representing the private sector solid waste industry, and interested stakeholders.

(1) With input from material recovery facility operators and other stakeholders, the department must develop guidelines designed to:

(b) Promote statewide best practices in the types and materials of recyclable material collection. These best practices may categorize best practices by local government size or other considerations.

(2) The guidelines in this section must be updated periodically to reflect changes in recyclable material market conditions.

(a) The department shall determine which management method for each category of solid waste will have the least environmental impact; and

(b) The department shall evaluate the costs of various management options for each category of solid waste, including a review of market availability, and shall take into consideration the economic impact on affected parties;

(c) Based on the results of (a) and (b) of this subsection, the department shall determine the best management for each category of solid waste. Different management methods for the same categories of waste may be developed for different parts of the state.

(2))) In the evaluation of the solid waste stream required in RCW 70.95.280, the department shall give priority to evaluating categories of solid waste that, in relation to other categories of solid waste, comprise a large volume of the solid waste stream, present economic opportunities for material recovery, recycling, and reuse, or present a high potential of harm to human health. At a minimum the following categories of waste shall be evaluated: (((a) By January 1, 1989,)) Yard waste and other biodegradable materials, paper products, disposable diapers, ((and)) batteries((; and