Resolve, To Examine Environmental Effects of the Resource Recovery System

Sec. 1. Work group to oversee study of environmental effects of laws and programs regarding recycling. Resolved: That a 5-member work group consisting of the Director of the State Planning Office within the Executive Department or the director's designee, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources or the commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee and a representative of the Maine Municipal Association shall oversee a 2-year study to be performed by an independent private entity to review the focus on the environmental effects that laws and programs regarding recycling have generated. The representatives of the State Planning Office and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall serve as cochairs of the work group. The work group shall engage the assistance of a qualified consultant in the relevant fields and tasks to be reviewed. The study must include an assessment of:

1. Current recycling rates;

2. The carbon footprints created by the beverage container recycling laws and municipal recycling programs;

3. Comprehensive recycling programs in the State;

4. Barriers to comprehensive recycling;

5. Alternative models of sustainability;

6. Energy and economic efficiencies;

7. The effect of educational programs on recycling rates;

8. The potential roles of and opportunities for redemption center businesses as the technology advances in recycling programs; and

9. Litter prevention and waste reduction efforts; and be it further

Sec. 2. Funding sources. Resolved: That the expert consultant and study described in section 1 must be funded through private funds received by the State from outside sources and dedicated to this project. The work group described in section 1 shall determine and administer any private funds received with respect to the tasks identified in section 1. The work group has sole discretion to determine how any private funds received to conduct this study are spent and, depending upon the amount of private funds received, the order in which the 9 items set forth in section 1 should be assessed. The work group may rely upon existing data, other studies and any other information it considers pertinent in order to complete the assessment described in section 1. When private funds are received, the Executive Department, State Planning Office and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall notify the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters; and be it further

Sec. 3. Reporting date. Resolved: That the study described in section 1 must be completed no later than January 15, 2012, unless a one-year extension is necessary to complete the study. The work group shall provide an update to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters on January 15, 2010 and again on January 15, 2011 as to the progress of and any initial findings from the study; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Planning Office 0082

Initiative: Allocates funds to allow private outside sources of funds to be used to hire a consultant for a study on beverage container recycling programs.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2009-10	2010-11
All Other	$0	$250,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$250,000