`            HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2649

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Environmental Affairs

 

Title:  An act relating to solid waste and recyclables.

 

Brief Description:  Reporting on solid waste or recyclables.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives J. Kohl, Horn, Rust, L. Johnson, Linville, Foreman, Roland and Flemming.

 

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Environmental Affairs, February 3, 1994, DPS.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

 

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Rust, Chair; Flemming, Vice Chair; Horn, Ranking Minority Member; Bray; Edmondson; Foreman; L. Johnson; J. Kohl; Linville and Roland.

 

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hansen; Holm and Sheahan.

 

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

 

Background:  Current state law requires persons who collect solid waste to annually report how much material they collect and where it is delivered.  Recycling companies are required to report because the definition for "solid waste" includes recyclables.  The Department of Ecology is required to develop reporting guidelines including provisions to keep proprietary information confidential.  The department is not authorized to impose penalties on persons who do not submit reports.

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Solid waste and recycling reports must be complete by the date specified by the Department of Ecology.  The department must write a letter to each late respondent with the following information:  when the report is due, that the company has 30 days to complete and submit the report, what the penalties are for not submitting a complete report, and that technical assistance is available. 

 

The department may levy a civil penalty of up to $25 per day for companies that do not submit a recycling report within 30 days of receiving a letter.  The department may delegate report collection requirements to cities or counties that agree to accept delegation.  A solid waste or recycling company cannot be required to complete more than one report per year.  Companies that accept recyclables from more than one county may report only to the Department of Ecology.  The department is directed to structure the reporting requirements so as to minimize the amount of time needed to fill out the reports.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill reduces the penalty for not submitting a report from $50 to $25 per day.  The substitute bill also authorizes the department to delegate report collection authority, prohibits duplicative reporting requirements, and specifies that certain companies report only to the department.

 

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 27, 1994.

 

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

 

Testimony For:  The response rate to these reports is low and dropping.  Information from the recycling report is a critical tool for local governments in making decisions about solid waste and recycling services.  The department's provisions for confidentiality need to be refined for companies with few competitors.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Witnesses:  Steve Wamback, Pierce County Solid Waste (pro); Ray Hoffman, Seattle Solid Waste (pro); Jeanne Marie Isola, King County Solid Waste (pro); Jay Freeborne, Washington State Recycling Association (pro with changes); Mike Wilson, Department of Ecology (pro); Tom Baranowski, Weyerhaeuser Paper Company (pro with changes); and Suzanne Leger, Washington Organic Recycling Council (pro with changes).