SR610: SR610 Senate Study Committee on Improving and Increasing Recycling; create

26 LC 60 0312S (SCS) 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 other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, Georgia continues to experience population growth and economic expansion,3 increasing demand on solid waste management systems and landfill capacity; and4 WHEREAS, Georgia has significant opportunities to strengthen recycling as an economic5 development tool that supports manufacturing, supply chains, an d jobs while conserving6 natural resources; and7 WHEREAS, recyclable commodities such as glass, aluminum, plasti cs, paper, tires, and8 other materials represent valuable feedstocks for Georgia based and regional manufacturers;9 and10 WHEREAS, recycling challenges in this state include infrastructure limitations, inconsistent11 collection systems, contamination of recyclable materials, and insufficient in-state end12 markets for certain commodities; and13 S. R. 610 - 1 - 26 LC 60 0312S (SCS) WHEREAS, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Department of14 Natural Resources plays a central role in solid waste planning, permitting, data collection,15 and technical assistance related to recycling; and16 WHEREAS, a market-driven, industry informed study is needed to identify practical17 strategies to improve material recovery, increase recycling rates, and grow end markets for18 recyclable commodities in this state.19 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:20 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee21 on Improving and Increasing Recycling.22 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the23 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate.24 The President of the Senate shall designate a legislative membe r of the committee as25 chairperson of the committee and may designate a vice chairperson of the committee.26 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,27 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto, with a particular focus on28 market viability and commodity-specific solutions and recommend any action or29 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee shall30 consider, but shall not be limited to:31 (A) The current collection, processing, and end-market capacit y for recyclable32 commodities, including glass, aluminum, plastics, paper, tires, and other materials33 commonly generated in this state;34 (B) Barriers to improving material quality, reducing contamina tion, and increasing35 recovery rates for specific commodities;36 (C) Opportunities to expand or attract in-state manufacturing and end markets that37 utilize recycled feedstocks;38 S. R. 610 - 2 - 26 LC 60 0312S (SCS) (D) The role of private industry, manufacturers, material reco very facilities, and39 recyclers in improving system efficiency and investment;40 (E) The effectiveness of existing state and local recycling pr ograms and EPD41 administered solid waste and recycling initiatives;42 (F) Best practices from other states and regions that have suc cessfully improved43 recycling outcomes through industry-led or public-private partnership models;44 (G) Data collection, reporting, and measurement tools needed to better track recycling45 performance by commodity;46 (H) Infrastructure needs, including processing capacity and tr ansportation47 considerations, to support increased recycling state wide;48 (I) Public education strategies focused on improving participa tion and reducing49 contamination in recycling streams; and50 (J) Any statutory, regulatory, or administrative changes neces sary to support a51 sustainable, market based recycling system in Georgia.52 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee53 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or54 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and55 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.56 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.57 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided58 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.59 (B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,60 or who are state employees shall receive no compensation for th eir services on the61 committee, but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the62 performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they63 are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.64 S. R. 610 - 3 - 26 LC 60 0312S (SCS) (C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state of ficials, or state65 employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that66 specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Offi cial Code of Georgia67 Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance a uthorized for state68 employees.69 (D) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member70 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds71 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds72 appropriated to the Senate; except that funds for the reimbursement of the expenses of73 state officials, other than legislative members, and for the re imbursement of the74 expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise75 available to their respective agencies.76 (6) Report.77 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that78 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the79 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to80 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.81 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for82 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)83 of this paragraph.84 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of85 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 86 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with87 the Secretary of the Senate.88 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary89 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.90 S. R. 610 - 4 - 26 LC 60 0312S (SCS) (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished upon the earlier of the91 submission of its final report or on December 1, 2026.92 S. R. 610 - 5 -