AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Interested parties note that more than 20 years have passed since the establishment of a state goal to recycle a certain percentage of the state's total municipal solid waste stream and contend that the state needs to evaluate current recycling activities with respect to the previous goal and the economic value of those activities to the state. H.B. 2763 seeks to provide for that evaluation through a study regarding the economic impacts of recycling in Texas.

 

H.B. 2763 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to conduct a study on the current and potential economic impacts of recycling, including state and local revenue that may be considered lost because recyclable materials are not recycled. The bill prescribes requirements for the study and requires TCEQ, to the extent practicable, to use methodologies developed for other recycling studies performed in Texas in performing the study. The bill requires TCEQ to prepare a written report on the results of the study and include the report in the 2016 summary report titled "Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review." The bill's provisions expire August 31, 2017.

 

H.B. 2763 amends current law relating to a study of the current and potential economic impacts of recycling.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Defines "commission" to mean the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and defines "recycling" in this Act.

 

SECTION 2. STUDY OF ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF RECYCLING. (a) Requires TCEQ to conduct a study on the current and potential economic impacts of recycling, including state and local revenue that may be considered lost because recyclable materials are not recycled. Requires that the study:

 

(1) assess current recycling efforts, including by:

 

(A) quantifying the amount of materials currently being recycled;

 

(B) assessing the cost, value, and quality of materials currently being recycled; and

 

(C) estimating the amount of materials that could be recycled but are not currently being recycled;

 

(2) identify methods that may be used, by the public sector, the private sector, or both, to increase recycling, including through the development of:

 

(A) new markets for recycled materials; and

 

(B) new businesses that may result from recycling;

 

(3) investigate the current and potential availability of funding for the methods identified under Subdivision (2);

 

(4) assess the current types and number of jobs associated with recycling and potential additional opportunities for job creation that may result from increased recycling; and

 

(5) assess infrastructure needs and development opportunities associated with recycling in rural areas.

 

(b) Requires TCEQ, to the extent practicable, to use methodologies developed for other recycling studies performed in this state in performing the study under this section.

 

(c) Requires TCEQ to prepare a written report on the results of the study and include the report in the 2016 summary report titled "Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review."

 

SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. Provides that this Act expires August 31, 2017.

 

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.