|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to a study of the current and potential economic impacts of |
|
recycling. |
|
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. |
|
SECTION 2. STUDY OF ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF RECYCLING. (a) The |
|
commission shall 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 study must: |
|
(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) To the extent practicable, the commission shall use |
|
methodologies developed for other recycling studies performed in |
|
this state in performing the study under this section. |
|
(c) The commission shall 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. This Act expires August 31, 2017. |
|
SECTION 4. 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, 2015. |