HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6430

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.

As Passed House:

March 6, 2020

Title: An act relating to establishing a statewide industrial waste coordination program.

Brief Description: Establishing a statewide industrial waste coordination program.

Sponsors: Senators Brown, Rolfes, Frockt, Warnick, Das and Hasegawa.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Environment & Energy: 2/24/20, 2/27/20 [DP];

Appropriations: 3/2/20 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/6/20, 96-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Establishes an industrial waste coordination program and a competitive industrial symbiosis grant program within the Department of Commerce.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Fitzgibbon, Chair; Lekanoff, Vice Chair; DeBolt, Ranking Minority Member; Dye, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boehnke, Doglio, Fey, Goehner, Mead, Robinson and Shewmake.

Staff: Nikkole Hughes (786-7156).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 33 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chandler, Chopp, Cody, Corry, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hoff, Hudgins, Kilduff, Kraft, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Steele, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton, Tharinger and Ybarra.

Staff: Jessica Van Horne (786-7288).

Background:

Industrial symbiosis is the use by one company or sector of waste resources from another. In the 2019-21 State Omnibus Operating Appropriations Act, the Department of Commerce was directed to produce a proposal and recommendations for establishing an industrial waste coordination program by December 1, 2019.

Published in November 2019, the commissioned report, entitled "Washington Industrial Waste Coordination (Industrial Symbiosis) Program Recommendations," made the following key recommendations:

Summary of Bill:

Industrial Waste Coordination Program.

An industrial waste coordination program is established within the Department of Commerce (Department) to provide expertise, technical assistance, and best practices to support local industrial symbiosis projects. The industrial waste coordination program must be administered by the Department and administered regionally, with each region provided with a dedicated facilitator, and technical and administrative support.

The Department may coordinate with other agencies, representatives of business and manufacturing networks, and other entities in order to develop material-flow generation data and increase multisectoral outreach. In generating the material-flow data collection system, the Department may only use publicly available data or data voluntarily provided by program participants. No entity may be required to disclose material-flow data. The Department must keep any proprietary business information confidential, and such information is exempt from public disclosure under the Public Records Act.

Competitive Industrial Symbiosis Grant Program.

Subject to appropriations, a competitive industrial symbiosis grant program is established within the Department to provide grants for the research, development, and deployment of local waste coordination projects. The Department must develop a method and criteria for the allocation of grants, subject to the following:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Environment & Energy):

(In support) Industrial symbiosis is the process by which the waste from one company becomes the resource for another company.  The colocation of businesses can take advantage of industrial waste streams. The more business can incorporate integrated systems, the more businesses can find efficiencies and create value. It would be good to have some more transparency on the projects funded through the grant program created in the bill.  It would be good to add an environmental justice backstop to the bill in order to make sure no additional burdens are added to already burdened communities.

(Opposed) None.

(Other) The bill reflects the Department of Commerce's (Department) report on industrial symbiosis.  The Department would bring on additional staff to implement the work outlined in the bill.  There may be some overlap in the bill with existing work being done by the Department and the Department of Ecology regarding the recycling development center.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):

(In support) This bill would establish an industrial waste coordination program, which will focus on the reuse of energy, wastewater, and materials in industrial settings.  The program would help save money and reduce emissions.  The program is based on a similar program in Denmark, which has successfully assisted industries in reducing emissions, reusing materials, and providing economic value.  The fiscal impact of the program is likely scalable.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying (Environment & Energy): (In support) Senator Brown, prime sponsor; Ted Sturdevant, Center for Sustainable Infrastructure; and Heather Trim, Zero Waste Washington.

(Other) Brian Young, Washington State Department of Commerce.

Persons Testifying (Appropriations): Heather Trim, Zero Waste Washington; and Ted Sturdevant, Center for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Environment & Energy): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations): None.