SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1784

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Pruitt, Sprenkle, Ferguson, Rust, D. Sommers, Unsoeld, Valle, Brekke, Jesernig and Todd)

Encouraging state purchasing of recovered materials.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 23, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Owen, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Rick Anderson (786-7717)

                  February 23, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, FEBRUARY 23, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Many local governments have started or have plans for collection programs for recyclable commodities, generally including glass, newspapers, tin, and aluminum.  Private recyclers have provided this service traditionally and have achieved a statewide recycling average of 15 percent of the total waste stream.

Increased collection by itself will not increase recycling rates.  The other essential steps in recycling are processing, re-manufacturing, and final sale of the new product.  In its interim report, the Joint Select Committee for Preferred Solid Waste Management found that consumers can significantly stimulate markets for recyclable commodities if they develop a preference for buying products containing recycled materials.

Because state and local governments are large purchasers of goods, the committee recommended that the state implement a purchasing system that considers the recycled content of a product in its purchasing decisions.  Increased state purchases of products containing recycled commodities will stimulate markets and act to compensate for the increased supply of recyclable commodities caused by the local government collection programs.

SUMMARY:

The recycled content of a product is established as one of several criteria used to award contracts by the Office of State Procurement within the Department of General Administration (GA).

Bidders of state purchasing contracts are required to provide an affidavit of the percentage of recycled product content.

GA is directed to develop a directory of businesses that supply products containing recycled materials and to encourage purchase of such products by local governments and other public entities utilizing the state's purchasing system.

At the request of local governments, refuse haulers are required to distribute educational materials pertaining to recycling.  For rate-making purposes, refuse haulers may request that the cost of distributing such materials be considered as a normal operating expense.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The effective date of the act is changed to July 1, 1988.  In lieu of an affidavit, vendors are required to furnish a statement of their product's recycled content.

A provision prohibiting the inclusion of mill waste as part of a product's recycled content is deleted.  A provision modifying the use of the weighting factor is also deleted.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: No one