2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 13
BY SENATORS LAMBERT AND BARROW
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Department of Environmental Quality to study and make
recommendations for strategies to increase the recycling of plastic.
WHEREAS, economic development and people's changing patterns of consumption
and production have led to a drastic increase in plastic wastes in Louisiana as it has across
the globe; and
WHEREAS, the lack of adequate recycling of plastic waste harms the environment
and poses threat to human health, and therefore, there is great desire to reduce plastic wastes;
and
WHEREAS, a large portion of litter is composed of plastic that negatively effects our
environment, our communities, and our economy; and
WHEREAS, this litter directly impacts the environment through habitat destruction
in marine and aquatic ecosystems, largely through storm water runoff, and to pet and wildlife
injury and death due to litter entanglement, toxicity, and ingestion; and
WHEREAS, according to a study commissioned by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the
direct economic impact of paying to have litter collected and disposed of costs local and
state government forty million dollars per year; and
WHEREAS, this forty-million-dollar-per-year price tag is in addition to other direct
costs incurred for enforcing litter laws and developing programs and advertisements
encouraging and educating citizens on the dangers of litter and the indirect economic
impacts including real estate devaluation, loss of new industry and business, and loss of
tourism and ecotourism; and
WHEREAS, by consulting with other governmental and nongovernmental entities
and the business community, the department can explore innovative strategies and those that
have proven successful in other jurisdictions to increase recycling plastic; and
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WHEREAS, a flourishing plastic recycling effort would further make the
construction and operation of advanced recycling facilities, provided for in Act No. 460 of
the 2021 R.S., economically feasible by supplying constant material for processing back into
basic components to manufacture into new products and thereby reduce litter on our
otherwise scenic roadways and waterways; and
WHEREAS, the advanced recycling and recycling facilities would have the
additional benefit of creating additional jobs and economic opportunities for our citizens and
businesses.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Environmental Quality, in consultation with any
governmental entity, nongovernmental organization, or stakeholder the department finds
useful or necessary, to study strategies to increase the recycling of plastic and to report
recommendations to the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality and the House
Committee on Natural Resources and Environment by March 10, 2023.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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