Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Agriculture & Ecology Committee

HB 1907

Brief Description:  Encouraging recycling and waste reduction.

Sponsors:  Representatives Linville, Barlean, Hunt, Kirby, Mielke, Jackley, Romero, Morris, Dunshee, Delvin, Anderson, Keiser, Lovick, Ruderman, Ogden, O'Brien, Kagi, Edmonds, Wood, McDermott, Santos, Kessler, Simpson, Kenney and Schual‑Berke.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Requires the Department of General Administration to work with the commercial and industrial construction industry to develop guidelines for implementing on-site construction waste management planning, and report the results to the Legislature by December 15, 2001.

$Requires the Director of the Department of General Administration to adopt product standards for recycled product purchasing for strawboard. 

$Applies the adopted product standards for recycled product purchasing to any state-funded construction project whenever the administering agency and project owner determine that the products are cost-effective and readily available.

$Adopts the state goal of establishing programs to eliminate residential yard debris in landfills by year 2011.

$Directs county and city comprehensive plans to include consideration of residential waste collection rate structures that encourage waste reduction, recycling, and yard debris collection.

Hearing Date:  2/23/01

Staff:  Jason Callahan (786‑7117).

Background: 

The Waste Not Washington Act of 1989 established a policy framework for waste reduction, reuse, and recycling that included setting a goal for the state to recycle 50 percent by 1995, expansion of local government solid waste planning, conduct of a waste characterization survey, reporting requirements, and regulation of solid waste collection companies.

According to the Department of Ecology, the state's recycling rate reached a high of 39 percent in 1996 and declined to 33 percent in 1997. The Department of Ecology convened a Recycling Assessment Panel to evaluate causes of the recycling rate decline and to recommend responses. The panel's  report was presented in February 2000 and includes recommendations for legislation.  Among the recommendations were plans for increasing commercial recycling, increasing the efficiency of residential recycling, increasing organic material recycling, addressing land-clearing waste, and raising awareness statewide.

Summary of Bill: 

The following encourages recycling and waste reduction:

1)The Department of General Administration is required to work with the commercial and industrial construction industry to develop guidelines for implementing on-site construction waste management planning, and report the results to the Legislature by December 15, 2001.

2)The Director of the Department of General Administration is required to adopt product standards for recycled product purchasing for strawboard.

3)The legislatively adopted product standards for recycled product purchasing is to be applied to any state-funded construction project whenever the administering agency and project owner determine that the products are cost-effective and readily available.

4)A state goal of establishing programs to eliminate residential yard debris in landfills by 2011 is formally adopted.

5)County and city comprehensive plans are directed to include consideration of residential waste collection rate structures that encourage waste reduction, recycling, and yard debris collection through economic incentives for customers.  Jurisdictions signing a comprehensive solid waste plan utilizing residential incentive rates must adopt corresponding rate structures in their ordinances.  The Utilities and Transportation Commission may adopt rules to implement the rate incentive program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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