New legislation proposed by the Washington state Department of Ecology hopes to address some of those deficiencies in regional recycling and solid waste management. The ultimate goal is to attract more businesses to recycle and use materials in the state, and offer state help for waste managers at the county and city level as they better plan for how to manage the stuff they collect.

CONTINUE READING AT WASTE ADVANTAGE

The 2019 Oregon Legislative session begins January 22 and will likely include discussion of many issues of interest to AOR’s members. The legislative committee began review of legislative concepts in November. This update includes a summary of recent committee meetings and information about open positions on the committee and how to apply for those positions.

A California lawmaker introduced legislation this week that would make the state the first to bar retailers from giving out printed receipts unless a customer requests them.

The proposed measure — Assembly Bill 161 — would require stores to use electronic receipts as the default option. Stores that give out printed receipts without first being asked by the customer could be subject to fines. If passed, the bill could have implications far beyond California, according to experts.

The Oregon Legislature is reportedly mulling to enforce a statewide ban on plastic straws and a tax on plastic bags.

From Recycling Today by Kelly Maile

Surya Raghavendran of Ann Arbor, Michigan isn’t your average 17-year-old. Not only does the high school senior run a small business repairing iPhones when he’s not in class, but he’s raising awareness about people’s right to fix their own devices without paying companies like Apple exorbitant fees.

AOR Legislative Chair, Pam Peck, provided testimony at the Senate Energy and Environment Committee Hearing regarding recycling markets challenges and how local communities are responding. 

The California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) recently put out a call to action to its members regarding three pieces of legislation that are facing steep opposition as they head to the Assembly Floor next week.

The Oregon House Committee on Energy and Environment held an informational hearing on the recycling markets issue earlier this week.

The speakers included Abbey Boudouris and Brian Fuller from DEQ, Kristin Mitchell from ORRA, and Michael Wisth from the city of Eugene.

They did a great job providing an overview of the situation and discussing how local areas are responding.

Waste Today reports: 

Assemblymember Mark Stone, a democrat representing the 29th California Assembly District, has reintroduced legislation to require plastic bottle caps to be tethered to their beverage containers. By banning bottles that don’t have attached caps, California will reduce one of the most prevalent sources of plastic litter in the state, he says.