Senate Resolution 610
By: Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Brass of the 6th, Robertson of the 29th and Strickland of
the 42nd
ADOPTED SENATE
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Senate Study Committee on Improving and Increasing Recycling; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, Georgia continues to experience population growth and economic expansion,
increasing demand on solid waste management systems and landfill capacity; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has significant opportunities to strengthen recycling as an economic
development tool that supports manufacturing, supply chains, and jobs while conserving
natural resources; and
WHEREAS, recyclable commodities such as glass, aluminum, plastics, paper, tires, and
other materials represent valuable feedstocks for Georgia based and regional manufacturers;
and
WHEREAS, recycling challenges in this state include infrastructure limitations, inconsistent
collection systems, contamination of recyclable materials, and insufficient in-state end
markets for certain commodities; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Department of
Natural Resources plays a central role in solid waste planning, permitting, data collection,
and technical assistance related to recycling; and
WHEREAS, a market-driven, industry informed study is needed to identify practical
strategies to improve material recovery, increase recycling rates, and grow end markets for
recyclable commodities in this state.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:
(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee
on Improving and Increasing Recycling.
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the
Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate.
The President of the Senate shall designate a legislative member of the committee as
chairperson of the committee and may designate a vice chairperson of the committee.
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto, with a particular focus on
market viability and commodity-specific solutions and recommend any action or
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee shall
consider, but shall not be limited to:
(A) The current collection, processing, and end-market capacity for recyclable
commodities, including glass, aluminum, plastics, paper, tires, and other materials
commonly generated in this state;
(B) Barriers to improving material quality, reducing contamination, and increasing
recovery rates for specific commodities;
(C) Opportunities to expand or attract in-state manufacturing and end markets that
utilize recycled feedstocks;
(D) The role of private industry, manufacturers, material recovery facilities, and
recyclers in improving system efficiency and investment;
(E) The effectiveness of existing state and local recycling programs and EPD
administered solid waste and recycling initiatives;
(F) Best practices from other states and regions that have successfully improved
recycling outcomes through industry-led or public-private partnership models;
(G) Data collection, reporting, and measurement tools needed to better track recycling
performance by commodity;
(H) Infrastructure needs, including processing capacity and transportation
considerations, to support increased recycling state wide;
(I) Public education strategies focused on improving participation and reducing
contamination in recycling streams; and
(J) Any statutory, regulatory, or administrative changes necessary to support a
sustainable, market based recycling system in Georgia.
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
(B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,
or who are state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the
committee, but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the
performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they
are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.
(C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state
employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that
specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state
employees.
(D) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member
of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds
necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds
appropriated to the Senate; except that funds for the reimbursement of the expenses of
state officials, other than legislative members, and for the reimbursement of the
expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise
available to their respective agencies.
(6) Report.
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)
of this paragraph.
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with
the Secretary of the Senate.
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary
of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished upon the earlier of the
submission of its final report or on December 1, 2026.