FINAL BILL REPORT

E2SHB 2539

C 154 L 10

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Optimizing the collection of source separated materials.

Sponsors: House Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Representative Upthegrove).

House Committee on Ecology & Parks

House Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Committee on Environment, Water & Energy

Background:

Local governments are required to prepare a coordinated, comprehensive solid waste management plan that can be integrated into the comprehensive county plan. Each solid waste plan must include a waste reduction and recycling element. The waste reduction and recycling element of each local comprehensive solid waste management plan includes the levels of service for both urban and rural areas; the counties and cities determine which areas should be designated as urban or rural.

Each solid waste management plan is submitted to the Department of Ecology (DOE) for approval. The DOE then provides the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) with a copy of the plan. The UTC reviews the plan's assessment of the cost of solid waste collection and its impacts on rates charged by regulated solid waste collection companies and provides advice on the probable effects of the plan's recommendations. Both the DOE and the UTC must provide technical assistance when necessary.

Once approved, each solid waste management plan must be maintained in a current condition and reviewed and revised periodically.

Summary:

In the comprehensive solid waste management plan, each county within the state must plan for solid waste and materials reduction, collection, and handling and management services and programs throughout the state, as designed to meet the unique needs of each county and city. When updating a solid waste management plan, local comprehensive plans must consider and plan for the following handling methods or services:

• source separation of recyclable materials and products, organic materials, and wastes by generators;

• collection of source separated materials;

• handling and proper preparation of materials for reuse or recycling;

• handling and proper preparation of organic materials for composting or anaerobic digestion; and

• handling and proper disposal of nonrecyclable wastes.

In addition, when updating a solid waste management plan, each plan must consider methods that will be used to address the following:

• construction and demolition waste for recycling or reuse;

• organic material including yard debris, food waste, and food contaminated paper products for composting or anaerobic digestion;

• recoverable paper products for recycling;

• metals, glass, and plastics for recycling; and

• waste reduction strategies.

Upon request of a county, the UTC may approve rates, charges, or services at a discount for low-income senior customers and low-income customers, as adopted by the county in its comprehensive solid waste management plan. Expenses and lost revenues as a result of these discounts must be included in the company's cost of service and recovered in rates to other customers.

The UTC must allow solid waste collection companies collecting recyclable materials to retain up to 50 percent of the revenue paid to the companies for the recyclable material if the companies submit a plan to the UTC that is certified by the appropriate local government authority as being consistent with the local government solid waste plan and that plan demonstrates how those revenues will be used to increase recycling.

Votes on Final Passage: