STATEWIDE RECYCLING COORDINATOR - S.B. 854 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS

sans-serif">Senate Bill 854 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor: Senator Patricia L. Birkholz

Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

CONTENT

The bill would add Part 174 to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to establish the Office of Statewide Recycling Coordinator in the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The DEQ Director would have to appoint the Coordinator to serve at his or her pleasure. As recommended by the Coordinator, the DEQ could employ assistants and make expenditures necessary to implement Part 174 and perform the powers and duties of Statewide Recycling Coordinator.

The Coordinator would have to do all of the following:

--    Establish a method for regular review of local recycling programs in the State, in conjunction with a proposed Recycling Advisory Council.

--    Gather information about recycling processes, markets, and rates.

--    Conduct and submit a study of the capacity of the State to handle material recovered for recycling, the feasibility of collecting and transporting material for recycling in the State, and the ability of the State to sustain markets for products containing recycled content (as required by the Legislature).

--    Submit recommendations for improving and expanding recycling in the State (as required by the Legislature).

--    Perform any other duties imposed by law or the Director.

The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 721, which would impose a surcharge on land-filled solid waste, and Senate Bill 790, which would establish the Recycling Advisory Council within the DEQ.

MCL 324.14703 - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would create the position of Statewide Recycling Coordinator in the Department of Environmental Quality. This position currently exists in the DEQ. It was created initially in an appropriation act for the DEQ a few years ago. The position is annually renewed in the DEQ’s operating budget and is supported with an appropriation of $60,000 from waste reduction fee revenue, generated from a hazardous waste disposal fee.

Date Completed: 12-15-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Jessica RunnelsFloor\sb854 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.