Municipal News

Two bills, sponsored by New Jersey State Sen. Bob Smith (D), and signed into law by Gov. John Corzine, address the issue of recycling. One bill will guarantee funding for municipal recycling programs, while the other will create a statewide electronics recycling initiative.

Smith, chair of the New Jersey Senate Environmental Committee, says that at one time the state was one of the leaders in the recycling movement. "We need to do more to reenergize our state’s recycling profile and ensure sustainable, effective programs to deal with new trends in recycled waste. These bills would put the Garden State back on the right track and ensure a greener legacy to impart to future generations of state residents."

New Jersey Senate Bill 554 will create a statewide electronic scrap management program for computers and televisions. Under the compromise legislation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would collect a registration fee from television manufacturers currently selling new televisions in New Jersey to fund county- and state-based TV recycling efforts. Recycling of computer equipment would be managed by computer manufacturers under plans approved by the DEP.

The bill was approved by a vote of 22-16 in the Senate and by a vote of 52-27 in the Assembly and has been signed into law by the governor.

"I commend the sponsors of this bill for putting forward legislation that is designed to address a significant and growing problem, both in New Jersey and nationally," Corzine said at the time of the signing.

Corzine continued, "In signing this bill, I am cognizant of its impact on a variety of manufacturers, both situated in New Jersey and located elsewhere. It is my understanding and expectation that technical concerns with this legislation, which I would have addressed through a conditional veto had that option been available, will be addressed in the coming session. Notwithstanding these concerns, I know the sponsors share with me a desire not only to move forward on this difficult issue but also to ensure fairness and equity in the application and administration of this important environmental initiative. In this connection, I have asked the Department of Environmental Protection to work with this bill’s sponsors in order to further craft and refine this measure."

Senate Bill 557 will impose a recycling tax on solid waste generation to provide financial support to municipalities and counties for local recycling programs. The tax will be levied on the owner or operator of every solid waste facility in the state at a rate of $3 per ton on all solid waste accepted for disposal or transfer at the facility. The tax would not be imposed on facilities designated as "sanitary" landfills or on facilities associated with the recycling process and is similar to a $3 per ton recycling tax that was in place from 1987 to 1996.

The new recycling tax is estimated to raise about $23 million per year for recycling efforts in the state. Sixty percent of funds collected, or $13.8 million, would go to municipalities or counties as direct recycling grants. A quarter of the revenue, or $5.75 million, would go to help with preparing and implementing municipal solid waste plans. Ten percent, or $2.3 million, would go to the state recycling program, and 5 percent, or $1.2 million, would go to the counties for public information and education programs on recycling.

The bill was approved by the New Jersey Senate by a vote of 26-11 and by the state’s Assembly by a vote of 49-29 with two abstentions.

Establishments in North Carolina that serve alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine or liquor, are now required to separate, store and recycle the containers, according to House Bill 1518, which was passed during the 2005 legislative session.

The bill went into effect Jan. 1, 2008. Recycling is only required for containers that are sold for on-premises consumption. The bill prohibits the disposal of the containers, either at the landfill or by incineration.

According to a follow-up bill, a permittee unable to find a recycler for its containers may apply to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for a one-year stay of the requirement.

The city of Chicago has narrowed the list of potential operators for the city’s material recovery facilities (MRFs) on a long-term concession and lease.

Twelve companies submitted responses to a request for qualifications (RFQ) issued by Chicago this past fall, but five teams either withdrew their submissions or were deemed unqualified.

"We are very pleased with the response to our RFQ and the number of teams that have the financial capacity and technical expertise required to successfully operate these facilities," Paul Volpe, Chicago CFO, says.

The seven companies submitting bids were Allied Waste Transportation, Chicago; ARC Disposal & Recycling, a subsidiary of Republic Services Inc., Mount Prospect, Ill.; Fulcrum BioEnergy & Casella Waste Systems Inc., Pleasanton, Calif.; Norcal Waste Systems Inc., San Francisco; Urbaser, S.A. & Transload America Inc., Madrid, Spain, and Batavia, Ill.; Veolia Environmental Services, West Chicago, Ill.; and Waste Management of Illinois, Downers Grove, Ill.

The city will begin a competitive bidding process, providing the bidders with more information and allowing them to conduct due diligence on the MRFs.

The city owns three MRFs. These facilities receive, process and transfer about 75 percent of the residential solid waste collected by the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation.

Any lease transaction would require the approval of the Chicago City Council.

Municipal recycling programs that boost Pennsylvania’s economy and protect its environment are invited to apply for the state’s latest round of recycling development and implementation grants.

To be eligible for recycling development and implementation grants, applicants must submit a plan that includes actions and strategies for optimizing a program’s self-sufficiency. The plan should include strategies for reducing costs and generating revenues, provisions for establishing waste reduction and recycling incentives, mechanisms for public outreach and stakeholder input, and methods to document progress.

Grants of up to $500,000 are available, and applications must be received or postmarked by June 20. Funding priorities for the program include:

DEP commissioned a technical report titled "Building Financially Sustainable Recycling Programs" to provide assistance to local governments in developing methods and strategies for reducing costs and growing revenues. The report identifies options and practical steps to improve financial sustainability.

More information on the grant program or the technical report is available at www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: "Recycling."