SR 610: Senate Study Committee on Improving and Increasing Recycling; create

Georgia's population growth is putting more pressure on landfills and solid waste systems, and this resolution responds by setting up the Senate Study Committee on Improving and Increasing Recycling. The President of the Senate would appoint five senators to the committee, with one designated as chairperson. The committee is directed to study current recycling collection and processing capacity, barriers to reducing contamination, opportunities for in-state manufacturers to use recycled materials, best practices from other states, and what data or infrastructure Georgia needs to track and improve recycling. It can recommend legislation based on its findings. Legislative members get standard travel and expense allowances under Georgia law, funded through the Senate's budget. The committee must file any report before it is abolished, which happens automatically once it submits a final report or on December 1, 2026, whichever comes first.

• Establishes the Senate Study Committee on Improving and Increasing Recycling, made up of five senators appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Directs the committee to study recycling collection, processing, and end markets for commodities like glass, aluminum, plastics, paper, and tires.
• Authorizes the committee to recommend legislation or administrative changes to support a market based recycling system.
• Sets standard travel and expense reimbursement for legislative members and allows limited reimbursement for other participating officials or employees.
• Requires any committee report to be approved by majority vote and filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically once it files a final report or on December 1, 2026, whichever happens first.

The bill directly affects the five senators appointed to the committee, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division within the Department of Natural Resources, and industry groups such as manufacturers, material recovery facilities, and recyclers who may be asked to provide input during the study.

The committee's findings could shape future Georgia legislation on recycling infrastructure, contamination reduction, and market development for recycled materials, potentially affecting how counties, waste haulers, manufacturers, and residents handle recyclables in the years ahead, though the resolution itself creates no new mandates.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Senate Study Committee on Improving and Increasing Recycling.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee's composition at five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) lists ten specific topics the committee must consider, including end-market capacity, contamination barriers, in-state manufacturing opportunities, and best practices from other states.
• Paragraph (5) sets allowances for legislative members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and limits allowances to five days unless additional days are authorized, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any adopted report to be approved by majority vote of a quorum and filed with the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee upon submission of its final report or on December 1, 2026, whichever comes first.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-02-24Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-02-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2026-01-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2026-01-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)Primary sponsor
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #875

• recycling
• waste management
• economic development
• environmental policy