| |
| |
|
|
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; and |
|
|
(C) recycling. |
|
|
SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The commission |
|
|
shall convene an advisory committee established under Chapter 361, |
|
|
Health and Safety Code. |
|
|
(b) The commission and the advisory 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; |
|
|
(8) assess the economic effects of waste reduction; |
|
|
(9) assess job creation opportunities associated with |
|
|
recycling; and |
|
|
(10) review recycling activities in this state, |
|
|
including the materials being recycled and the facilities and |
|
|
programs that accept or use recycled materials in this state. |
|
|
(c) The advisory committee shall prepare a written report on |
|
|
the results of the study, submit the report to the commission, and |
|
|
collaborate with the commission to publish the study on the |
|
|
commission's Internet website. |
|
|
SECTION 3. GOAL UPDATE. The commission shall use the report |
|
|
described by Section 2 of this Act to reassess whether the source |
|
|
reduction and recycling goal established under Section 361.422, |
|
|
Health and Safety Code, is being achieved and how the goal might be |
|
|
updated. |
|
|
SECTION 4. PLAN UPDATES. The commission shall recommend to |
|
|
each entity that has adopted a solid waste management plan under |
|
|
Subchapter D, Chapter 363, Health and Safety Code, ways in which the |
|
|
entity can update the plan based on the report described by Section |
|
|
2 of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 5. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than December |
|
|
1, 2014, 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 the results of the study described by Section 2 of this |
|
|
Act. |
|
|
SECTION 6. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2015. |
|
|
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, 2013. |