82R6410 JXC-D
By: Allen H.B. No. 1775
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on waste reduction and a statewide waste
reduction plan.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(2) "Recycling" has the meaning assigned by Section
361.421, Health and Safety Code.
(3) "Waste reduction" means reducing the amount and
toxicity of waste, including:
(A) source reduction, as that term is defined by
Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code;
(B) reusing materials or diverting materials
from a waste stream before disposal; and
(C) recycling.
SECTION 2. WASTE REDUCTION STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE; STUDY.
(a) The commission shall appoint a waste reduction stakeholders
committee composed of members interested in waste reduction,
including:
(1) two representatives from each of the following:
(A) the business community;
(B) the public sector;
(C) the municipal solid waste industry;
(D) the private sector solid waste industry;
(E) the private sector recycling industry;
(F) the academic community; and
(G) the general public; and
(2) one representative from a nonprofit organization
that promotes recycling statewide.
(b) The waste reduction stakeholders committee shall
conduct a study regarding waste reduction in this state. The study
must:
(1) assess current waste reduction efforts and
identify ways in which the private and public sectors can improve
and increase those efforts;
(2) assess the effectiveness of waste reduction
statutes, regulations, and programs in this state;
(3) assess the extent to which waste reduction
programs in this state are duplicative;
(4) investigate available funding for waste reduction
programs in this state;
(5) review waste reduction education programs in this
state;
(6) review standards in use in this state for:
(A) training and certification of waste
reduction professionals; and
(B) reporting amounts of waste recycled;
(7) review waste reduction best practices; and
(8) assess job creation opportunities associated with
waste reduction.
(c) The waste reduction stakeholders committee shall
prepare a written report on the results of the study and submit the
report to the commission.
SECTION 3. HEARING. The commission shall provide notice of
and hold at least one public hearing and receive public comments on
the results of the study conducted under Section 2 of this Act and
on the creation of a statewide waste reduction plan.
SECTION 4. STATEWIDE WASTE REDUCTION PLAN. The committee
shall prepare a statewide waste reduction plan based on the study
and comments from the public hearing or hearings. The plan must
include:
(1) goals determined by the committee for reducing
waste by a certain percentage and date;
(2) recommended best practices to help achieve those
goals;
(3) recommended standards for training and certifying
waste reduction professionals;
(4) recommended standards for recording and reporting
the amount of waste recycled by entities required to report
recycled amounts;
(5) recommended incentives to promote development of
end markets, where materials are diverted from the waste stream and
used for economic benefit;
(6) suggested sources of funding for implementing the
plan;
(7) a waste reduction education plan; and
(8) recommended state actions that would benefit the
economy of this state while:
(A) improving and increasing waste reduction
efforts; and
(B) minimizing the adverse environmental impacts
of waste.
SECTION 5. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2012, the
commission shall submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of
the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of the
standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary
jurisdiction over environmental matters a report that includes:
(1) the results of the study;
(2) a summary of the comments from the public hearing
or hearings; and
(3) the statewide waste reduction plan prepared by the
committee.
SECTION 6. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2013.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.