Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Environment & Energy Committee

SB 6430

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Establishing a statewide industrial waste coordination program.

Sponsors: Senators Brown, Rolfes, Frockt, Warnick, Das and Hasegawa.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Establishes an industrial waste coordination program and a competitive industrial symbiosis grant program within the Department of Commerce.

Hearing Date: 2/24/20

Staff: Nikkole Hughes (786-7156).

Background:

Industrial symbiosis is the use by one company or sector of waste resources from another. In the 2019-21 biennial operating budget, the Department of Commerce (Department) was directed to produce a proposal and recommendations for establishing an industrial waste coordination program by December 1, 2019.

Published in November 2019, the commissioned report, entitled "Washington Industrial Waste Coordination (Industrial Symbiosis) Program Recommendations," made the following key recommendations:

Summary of Bill:

Industrial Waste Coordination Program.

An industrial waste coordination program is established within the Department to provide expertise, technical assistance, and best practices to support local industrial symbiosis projects. The industrial waste coordination program must be administered by the Department and administered regionally, with each region provided with a dedicated facilitator and technical and administrative support.

The Department may coordinate with other agencies, representatives of business and manufacturing networks, and other entities in order to develop material-flow generation data and increase multisectoral outreach. In generating the material-flow data collection system, the Department may only use publicly available data or data voluntarily provided by program participants. No entity may be required to disclose material-flow data. The Department must keep any proprietary business information confidential, and such information is exempt from public disclosure under the Public Records Act.

Competitive Industrial Symbiosis Grant Program.

Subject to appropriations, a competitive industrial symbiosis grant program is established within the Department to provide grants for the research, development, and deployment of local waste coordination projects. The Department must develop a method and criteria for the allocation of grants, subject to the following:

Null and Void.

A null and void clause is included.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.