(1) A solid waste collection company collecting recyclable materials from residences shall utilize one or more private recycling businesses when arranging for the processing and marketing of such materials, if the following conditions are met:
(a) A recycling business is located within the county at the time the collection program commences or at any time that the solid waste collection company changes its existing processor;
(b) A local private recycling business is capable and competent to provide the processing and marketing service; and
(c) A local private recycling business offers to pay a price for the recyclable materials which is equal to or greater than the price offered by out-of-county private recyclers, or proposes a charge for the processing and marketing service which is equal to or less than the charge for the service available from an out-of-county private recycler.
(2) This section shall not apply to:
(a) Cities or towns who exercise their authority under RCW 81.77.130 to provide residential curbside collection of recyclable materials;
(b) A solid waste collection company that is directed by a city, town, or county to utilize a publicly owned recyclable processing facility located within such city, town, or county; or
(c) Counties which exercise their authority under RCW 36.58.040 to contract for the residential curbside collection of source separated recyclables.
This section shall not apply to programs for the collection of source separated recyclable materials where rates to implement the programs have been filed with the commission prior to May 21, 1991.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "private recycling business" means any private for-profit or private not-for-profit firm that engages in the processing and marketing of recyclable materials.
(4) This section is not enforceable by complaint filed with the commission.
[ 1991 c 319 § 403.]