Title: An act relating to recycling at official gatherings.

Brief Description: Requiring recycling receptacles at official gatherings and sports facilities.

Sponsors: House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Lantz, Goodman, Sells, McCoy, Hunt and Simpson).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/14/07, 71-25.

Committee Activity: Water, Energy & Telecommunications: 3/27/07, 3/28/07 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, ENERGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Poulsen, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Marr, Oemig, Pridemore and Regala.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Honeyford, Ranking Minority Member; Holmquist and Morton.

Staff: Jan Odano (786-7486)

Background: The Department of Ecology (Ecology) serves as the coordinating and administrating agency for all state agencies and local governments receiving funds for waste reduction, litter control, and recycling. Ecology must cooperate with local governments to coordinate and ensure waste reduction, anti-litter, and recycling efforts, opportunities, and incentives are available in rural and urban areas. In addition, Ecology serves as the coordinating agency between the various industry organizations seeking to aid in the waste reduction, anti-litter, and recycling efforts.

County and city governments have the primary responsibility for solid waste management and the development and implementation of effective waste reduction and source separation strategies. Local governments must include a recycling component in their comprehensive solid waste plan. The waste reduction and recycling element must include a program for collection of recycled materials from residences in urban and rural areas.

The Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Litter Control Account is used by Ecology for waste reduction, litter control, and recycling activities. Ecology provides funding to local governments to establish, conduct, promote, and evaluate programs for recycling.

Summary of Substitute Bill: In communities with established curbside and business recycling available, the vendors who sell beverages in single-use aluminum, glass, or plastic bottles or cans at official gatherings and at sports facility must provide a recycling program. As part of the recycling program, a vendor must provide clearly marked recycling receptacles or reverse vending machines for aluminum, glass, or plastic bottles or cans for the beverages sold by the vendor, and provide transportation and recycle services for collected materials.

Official gathering is defined as an event authorized or approved by a public body, government, or authority, and is not limited to fairs, musical concerts, athletic games, festivals, tournaments, or any other formal or ceremonial event during which beverages are sold by vendors in single-use aluminum, glass or plastic bottles, or cans.

Sports facility is defined as outdoor recreational facilities, including athletic fields and ball parks at which beverages are sold by vendors in single-use aluminum, glass or plastic bottles, or cans.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is a sensible approach to recycling. It provides consistency for recycling activities.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Suellen Mele, Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation.