Recycling

1999: Recycling

PARTICIPATE in the Comprehensive Review of FL Recycling Laws

Florida is leaning towards replacing the recycling goal (30%), which was only reached by 10 counties in 1998,

with a diversion goal which would include waste-to-energy. NOW is the time to participate in the decision-making

process for the future of recycling in Florida.

You may comment on line at myFlorida.com.

The state recycling program will draft legislation and make recommendations

to the legislature in November 2001.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to comment on the direction

Florida should go to reduce waste

and increase recycling for Florida's environment.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection invites the public to discuss

Florida's recycling and waste reduction goals,

in accordance with Chapter 2001-224, Laws of Florida.

That law requires the Department to "conduct a comprehensive review

of the waste reduction and recycling goals set out in part IV of chapter 403,Florida Statutes

and other legislative requirements in view of reduced available funding for these purposes.

You may look up statutes on line at www.leg.state.fl.us

The review shall include, but is not limited to:

the appropriateness of maintaining, extending, or revising the goals

the effectiveness of current programs for meeting the goals

the role of Keep Florida Beautiful, Inc.

the need to continue those programs

alternative techniques for improving those programs

alternative strategies for meeting the needs of the programs

any other issues related to resource recovery and management.

The department shall consult with persons knowledgeable about recycling and waste reduction,

including, but not limited to, representatives of:local government, the private recycling industry

and the private waste management industry.

The department shall issue its report, recommendations, and proposed legislative changes to

the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives

by October 31, 2001.

You may submit comments at the meeting; by mail to:

Suzanne Boroff

Department of Environmental Protection

2600 Blairstone Rd., MS 4570

Tallahassee, FL. 32399-2400

by e-mail to: Suzanne.Boroff@dep.state.fl.us

OR through a web comment board at: www8.myflorida.com/environment/learn/wastemanagement/recycling/goals_main.html

INTIATIVES TO CONSIDER

Ban recyclable materials from Landfills. Wisconsin has banned: lead, acid batteries, appliances,

waste oil, yard waste, aluminum containers, corrugated and other containerboard, plastic #1&2 bottles,

polysytrene packaging, glass containers, magazines, newspaper, office paper, steel containers, and waste tires.

They've achieved a 43% MSW recycling rate.

Provide performance based recycling incentive grants (such as Pay-As-You-Throw ),

Base these grants on performance by setting a benchmark of 10% per capita recycling rate increase/year.

i.e. Each year that a 10% increase is attained, the County would be entitled to receive future funding.

Create financial incentives to recycle rather than landfill recyclable materials.

Many Solid Waste Directors and private landfills are more motivated to landfill waste than

to recycle more due to the disposal revenues collected. A tipping surcharge could be collected

by the state and rebates given to counties who demonstrate increased recycling.

Write stronger Post-consumer Recycled Content Procurement laws & work procurement

into all government purchasing contracts.

State and local purchasing contracts should require a minimum of 30% post consumer content

in items that can be manufactured using recycled materials.

Encourage Feedstock conversion (from raw materials to post-consumer materials) through tax incentives

and permit fee reductions. Companies using a raw material that is available through

recycling markets could be provided with financial incentives to convert to recycled content feedstock.

Provide infrastructure grants to establish recycling collection in schools and public institutions.

Many public institutions don't offer recycling because they have no budget to put in the infrastructure.

Establish extended producer responsibility (EPR) incentives through state equipment contracts.

Through government (state & local) purchasing, require all vendors to take back computers

and other equipment at the end of its service. Companies will design for recyclability

if such requirements were written into contracts.

State should serve as a resource for recycling outreach and education initiatives.

With the phase-out of R&E grant funding and only 10 counties reaching the 30% goal (1998 data),

local programs need state assistance to promote recycling.

Create container deposit system in F. Putting a 5 cent deposit on all recyclable beverage containers

would create an economic incentive to recycle and would reduce litter. State and local recycling programs

(& marketing/shipment of recyclable materials) could be supported through unredeemed container deposits

and landfill tipping fee surcharges.