HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1907
As Reported by House Committee On:
Agriculture & Ecology
Title: An act relating to recycling and waste reduction.
Brief Description: Encouraging recycling and waste reduction.
Sponsors: Representatives Linville, Barlean, Hunt, Kirby, Mielke, Jackley, Romero, Morris, Dunshee, Delvin, Anderson, Keiser, Lovick, Ruderman, Ogden, O'Brien, Kagi, Edmonds, Wood, McDermott, Santos, Kessler, Simpson, Kenney and Schual‑Berke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Agriculture & Ecology: 2/23/01, 2/26/01 [DPS].
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Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
$Requires the Department of General Administration to work with the commercial and industrial construction industry to develop guidelines for implementing on-site construction waste management planning, and report the results to the Legislature by December 15, 2001.
$Requires the director of the Department of General Administration to adopt product standards for recycled product purchasing for strawboard.
$Applies the adopted product standards for recycled product purchasing to any state-funded construction project whenever the administering agency and project owner determine that the products are cost-effective and readily available.
$Adopts the state goal of establishing programs to eliminate residential yard debris in landfills by year 2011 in areas where alternatives to disposal are not readily available and effective.
$Allows solid waste collection companies to retain up to 30 percent of the revenue paid to the company for recyclable materials.
$Directs food processing wastes and the debris from construction, demolition, and land-clearing to be given priority evaluation in the solid waste stream.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives G. Chandler, Republican Co‑Chair; Linville, Democratic Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; B. Chandler, Delvin, Dunshee, Grant, Hunt, Kirby, Quall, Roach, Schoesler and Sump.
Staff: Jason Callahan (786‑7117).
Background:
The Waste Not Washington Act of 1989 established a policy framework for waste reduction, reuse, and recycling that included setting a goal for the state to recycle 50 percent by 1995, expansion of local government solid waste planning, conduct of a waste characterization survey, reporting requirements, and regulation of solid waste collection companies.
According to the Department of Ecology, the state's recycling rate reached a high of 39 percent in 1996 and declined to 33 percent in 1997. The Department of Ecology convened a Recycling Assessment Panel to evaluate causes in the recycling rate decline and to recommend responses. The panel's report was presented in February 2000 and includes recommendations for legislation. Among the recommendations were plans for increasing commercial recycling, increasing the efficiency of residential recycling, increasing organic material recycling, addressing land-clearing waste, and raising awareness statewide.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The following encourages recycling and waste reduction:
1) The Department of General Administration is required to work with the commercial and industrial construction industry to develop guidelines for implementing on-site construction waste management planning, and report the results to the Legislature by December 15, 2001.
2) The director of the Department of General Administration is required to adopt product standards for recycled product purchasing for strawboard. This section is to take effect immediately.
3) The legislatively adopted product standards for recycled product purchasing is to be applied to any state-funded construction project whenever the administering agency and project owner determine that the products are cost-effective and readily available.
4) A state goal of establishing programs to eliminate residential yard debris in landfills by 2011 in areas where alternatives to disposal are not readily available and effective is formally adopted.
5) Solid waste collection companies collecting recyclable materials may retain up to 30 percent of the revenue paid to the company for the materials if the companies submit a plan that is consistent with the local government solid waste plan. The plan must also demonstrate how the revenues will be used to increase recycling. The remaining 70 percent of revenues will be passed to residential customers. The Utilities and Transportation Commission is required to report to the Legislature by December 2, 2004, to evaluate the effectiveness of revenue sharing on increased recycling and on costs to customers.
6) Food processing wastes and the debris from construction, demolition, and land-clearing are all to be given priority evaluation in the solid waste stream.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill clarifies that it was the state=s goal to establish programs to eliminate residential yard debris in landfills by year 2011 only in areas where alternatives to disposal are not readily available and effective; does not contain a provision directing county and city comprehensive plans to include consideration of residential waste collection rate structures that encourage waste reduction, recycling, and yard debris collection; includes the provision allowing solid waste collection companies to retain up to 30 percent of the revenue generated in the collection of recyclable materials; contains a technical change to the description of strawboard product standards, and adds an emergency clause for that section; and does not contain manure and major food processing wastes in the list of items receiving priority evaluation in the sold waste stream.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed except for Section 2 which takes effect immediately.
Testimony For: This is an excellent opportunity to expand the benefits of 1989's Waste Not Washington Act. The language in the bill was drafted with stakeholder input and the bill represents compromises that satisfy the greatest amount of stakeholders.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Jeff Kelley-Clarke, State Solid Waste Advisory Committee; Beth Redfield, Utilities and Transportation Commission; Rick Wickman, Washington Food Processors Council; Conan O=Sullivan, Washington Refuse and Recycling; and Willy O=Neil, Association of General Contractors.