(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13-1-40, there is established within the division a Recycling Market Development Advisory Council to assist in the development of markets for recovered materials and products with recycled content in this State.
(B) The members of the advisory council shall be appointed not later than ninety days after this article is effective.
(C) The advisory council shall consist of fourteen members to be appointed by the Governor to include:
(1) one member shall represent the division;
(2) one member shall represent county governments;
(3) one member shall represent municipalities;
(4) one member shall represent the solid waste collection and disposal industry;
(5) one member shall represent the existing recycling industry;
(6) one member shall represent the glass industry;
(7) one member shall represent the paper industry;
(8) one member shall represent the aluminum industry;
(9) one member shall represent the plastics industry;
(10) one member shall represent the tire industry;
(11) one member shall represent the general public;
(12) one member shall represent the oil industry;
(13) one member shall represent the scrap metal recycling industry; and
(14) one member shall represent higher education research institutions.
(D) Each member of the advisory council shall serve a two-year term beginning on the date of his appointment and shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority and shall receive the usual mileage, per diem, and subsistence provided by law for members of boards, committees, and commissions. Until sufficient funds have accumulated in the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund to cover the advisory council's expenses, the appointing authorities shall provide the mileage, per diem, and subsistence for their respective appointees. Any other expenses of the advisory council shall be shared equally by the appointing authorities until the trust fund has sufficient funds to cover the expenses.
(E) The chairman shall be designated by the Secretary of Commerce and the advisory council shall select its own vice-chairman. The advisory council shall adopt operating procedures and shall meet on the call of the chairman or of a majority of the members. Members shall promulgate regulations concerning meeting attendance. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to do business. The division shall provide the necessary staff and administrative facilities and services to the advisory council. The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall provide technical assistance to the council at the request of the chairman or of the vice-chairman, or by majority vote of the advisory council.
(F) Not later than fifteen months after this article is effective, the council shall provide to the Governor and to the General Assembly an initial report which shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) a description and analysis of this state's existing recycling industry;
(2) an analysis of the projected long-term capacity of existing markets to absorb materials generated by source separation, recovery, or recycling programs;
(3) an analysis of potential markets in this State, in other states, or in foreign countries for recovered materials and products with recycled content from this State;
(4) an analysis of institutional, economic, and technical barriers to the use of recovered materials and products with recycled content;
(5) recommendations for actions which may be taken to increase demand for source separated, recovered, or recycled materials or products;
(6) recommendations for actions which may be taken to increase the incentives for private individuals and for business and industry to consume or export recovered materials and products with recycled content;
(7) an analysis of the compatibility of recycling with solid waste treatment or disposal methods and recommendations on the feasibility of the implementation of mechanisms for cooperative marketing of recyclable materials;
(8) recommendations on categories of materials which should be recovered, given existing and potential markets for such materials;
(9) recommendations for a public education program to be implemented by the Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling within the department to provide information to the public and to business and industry on the benefits of source separation, recovery, and recycling and on the availability of recovered materials or products with recycled content;
(10) a study of methods of and cost effectiveness of source separation and recycling of recovered materials;
(11) a study of packaging reduction; and
(12) a study of the design of products at the primary stage of development to promote recyclability.
(G) Following its initial report, the council shall submit to the Governor and to the General Assembly by the end of each calendar year an annual report on recycling activities in this State which shall, at a minimum, include the following:
(1) any revisions which the council determines are necessary to its initial report;
(2) a description and analysis of the amounts and types of solid waste materials recovered or recycled in this State during the preceding year;
(3) recommendations regarding materials which should be added to or deleted from source separation, recovery, and recycling programs; and
(4) any other recommendations, including tax incentives, to facilitate the development of markets for recovered materials or products in this State.
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 181, Section 244, eff July 1, 1993; 1994 Act No. 361, Section 8, eff May 3, 1994.