SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1947

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                                 APRIL 3, 1991

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to recyclable materials.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives G. Fisher and Sprenkle).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Conner, Owen, and Snyder.

Staff:  Ats Kiuchi (786‑7708)

Hearing Dates:March 21, 1991; April 3, 1991

BACKGROUND:

The "Waste Not Washington Act" of 1989 established aggressive  waste reduction and recycling goals to reduce the state's solid waste stream.  A major provision of the act is to provide curbside collection of recyclable materials.

Curbside collection systems are operated by local governments or by private contractors.

With the growth of the curbside collection programs, the local independent recyclers have been adversely affected.  The volume of recyclables available to them is being reduced.

SUMMARY:

Whenever local governments change their waste reduction and recycling element in their solid waste management plans, their solid waste advisory committees shall meet with recycling businesses and solid waste companies to determine how local recycling companies may participate in the processing of the materials collected. 

The advisory committees shall consider a recommendation for local governments to utilize the existing local recyclers.

Each county, city or town providing a reduced collection rate for those who participate in their curbside recycling programs shall provide a similar rebate, refund or discount to those people utilizing other recycling programs.

Operators of vehicles licensed or certified to collect solid wastes or recyclables who make temporary stops outside incorporated cities and towns are not subject to traffic code violations.

No person may divert for personal or commercial use any recyclable materials placed in a recycling container without consent of the owner or operator of the container.  Violations are subject to a maximum civil penalty not to exceed $200 for each violation.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

Meetings of the local solid waste advisory committee shall be held during the development of local plans for the collection of source separated materials from residences.  Jurisdictions which have approved waste reduction and recycling elements of their local solid waste plan and those who have already started to select a service provider are exempt from the meeting provisions.

A "private recycling business" is defined.

State Utilities and Transportation Commission regulations may apply to a solid waste collection company or private contractor collecting recyclable materials from residences and utilizing a local private recycling business within a county.

The exemption from the traffic code for vehicles making stops to collect recyclables is deleted.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The franchised and contracted collectors of residential recyclables at curbside are adversely affecting the local recyclers.  Incentives such as a rebate, refund or discount should be authorized so that the local businesses can compete by encouraging householders to use their facilities.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Joe Tanner, State Recycling Association (pro); Greg Wright, State Recycling Association (pro); J.P. Jones, Washington Waste Management Association; Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington Cities