HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 332

BYRepresentatives Valle, Allen, Crane, May, Rayburn, Rust, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Lux

Requiring the department of ecology to implement and operate a waste exchange.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (10)

     Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Allen, Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, Pruitt, Sprenkle and Unsoeld.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (4)

     Signed by Representatives May, Schoon, D. Sommers and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 24, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In producing marketable products many industries generate unusable byproducts that are regulated as hazardous wastes under the state's Hazardous Waste Management Act.  This requires the industry to comply with an extensive permit and reporting system. However, these "wastes" may be a valuable product in another industry's production process.  If this waste were transferred to an industry who could use it, it would ease the disposal burdens of the industry that generated the waste and could reduce the amount of waste that would ultimately need to be disposed.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Department of Ecology is authorized to establish a hazardous waste exchange.  The department may advertise materials available for exchange, research what has been done in other states or other countries, enter into a regional waste exchange, and assess a fee from persons advertising in the exchange.

The participants in the exchange may request confidentiality from the department.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill required the department to implement a waste exchange.  The substitute bill authorizes the department to enter into a waste exchange, and provides greater detail on the department's authority.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 10, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Sierra Club.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     A waste exchange will lead to a reduction of the amount of hazardous wastes being disposed in landfills.  Waste exchanges have been very successful in Europe and Japan.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.