SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5844
As of January 16, 2024
Title: An act relating to creating a dilapidated recreational vehicle disposal program.
Brief Description: Creating a dilapidated recreational vehicle disposal program.
Sponsors: Senators Muzzall, Wagoner, Warnick and Wilson, J..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Technology: 1/16/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Creates a dilapidated recreational vehicle disposal program to be administered by the Department of Ecology.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
Staff: Adam Brunmeier (786-7357)
Background:

Recreational Vehicles Disposal Programs. Abandonment or improper disposal of recreational vehicles (RV) poses environmental and safety risks. Proper disposal of RVs involves several costs associated with the towing, dismantling, recycling, storage, and transportation of various waste products to appropriate disposal sites.

 

The Department of Licensing is currently administering existing programs to reimburse businesses for some of the costs associated with disposing of RVs abandoned on public lands. Those programs are funded from an abandoned RV disposal account. The existing programs do not offer reimbursement to recreational vehicle owners who are interested in disposing of them. 

 

The department of Transportation administers programs to construct, maintain, and operate RV sanitary disposal systems at safety rest areas along Washington's highway systems. Those programs are funded by the RV account. 
Summary of Bill:

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is directed to create a voluntary grant program to provide funding for counties to administer a dilapidated RV disposal program. The purpose is to incentivize RV owners to properly dispose of their vehicles within their county when such vehicle is no longer planned for use. The counties will use program funding to reimburse vehicle owners and cover the costs of towing, scrapping, and recycling RVs. 

 

A dilapidated RV means any camper, motor home, or trail trailer at least three years old and unwanted and the owner no longer plans to use the RV. A participating county must require the RV owner to prove ownership or provide the title when disposing the vehicle. 

 

Ecology may adopt rules to implement the program and must submit an annual report to the Legislature on the number of counties awarded grants, the number of dilapidated RVs disposed, and the cost of the program, beginning January 1, 2025. 

 

Expands the language for the existing Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account to authorize Ecology to utilize its funds in administering the program.

 

Appropriates $2.5 million from the Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account to Ecology to administer the program.  Appropriates an additional $2.5 million from the RV account to ecology to administer the program. 
Appropriation: The bill contains an appropriation(s) totaling $5,000,000 from various accounts.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: The current abandoned RV disposal programs are not working well. There are many RVs that are disposed of improperly, it is very expensive to deal with and creates environmental and public health risks. The new program will help preempt abandonment and create an incentive for owners to dispose of RVs properly. Programs diverting owners from abandoning the RVs will be helpful in avoiding the large costs and environmental damage they can cause. 

 

OTHER: The bill should be amended to incorporate private facilities more directly rather than counties. Many counties do not have the facilities to handle or process RVs, instead private facilities perform a lot of that work. The bill should take that into account in order to streamline the process and avoid wasteful spending. The bill should also be amended to cover all costs related to the processing of RVs, including hazardous waste management  and disposal and non-recyclable post-disassembly waste management and disposal. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Ron Muzzall, Prime Sponsor; Jason Callahan, Green Diamond Resource Company.
OTHER: Travis Dutton, Washington State Association of Counties; Gary Smith, Independent Business Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.