HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5478

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to curbside recycling.

Brief Description:  Requiring comprehensive solid waste management plans to include provisions for recycling for single and multiple family residences.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Conner and Wojahn).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Environmental Affairs, April 2, 1991, DPA;

Passed House, April 18, 1991, 98-0;

Passed Legislature, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Horn, Ranking Minority Member; Edmondson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bray; Brekke; G. Fisher; Neher; Phillips; Pruitt; D. Sommers; Sprenkle; and Van Luven.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  The 1989 "Waste Not Washington" Act requires cities and counties to plan for waste reduction and recycling as a part of their comprehensive local solid waste plans.  The waste reduction and recycling element of the comprehensive plan requires residential curbside recycling to be provided in urban areas and conveniently located drop-boxes and buy-back centers in rural areas.

Some cities and counties treat apartments and other multi-family residences as part of the commercial waste stream and as such do not provide curbside recycling service.

Summary of Bill:  Cities and counties must include provisions within their local solid waste plan to collect recyclables at multi-family residences located in urban areas.

By July 1, 1992, the state Building Code Council must adopt rules requiring adequate space to store and dispose of recyclable materials and solid waste in new multi-family residences and new commercial buildings.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Cities and counties are not required to provide service to apartments.  Many apartment residents would like the opportunity to recycle through a curbside program.  Curbside service at apartments would help the state reach its 50 percent recycling goal by 1995.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Paul Conner (pro); Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington Cities (pro with concerns); Mike Todd and Jan Glick, Washington Citizens for Recycling (pro with concerns).