Resolve, Regarding the Promotion of Composting

Sec. 1. Composting study. Resolved: That the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall study the feasibility of establishing incentives or mandates to promote composting in the State. The study must include but is not limited to:

1. The feasibility of enacting legislation modeled on the composting laws of Massachusetts and Vermont;

2. Consideration of relevant legislative proposals and actions in the United States Congress related to composing;

3. Consideration of relevant policies in other states, particularly in other New England states; and

4. Conformance of goals with the State's solid waste management hierarchy as set out in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 2101.

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, by February 15, 2020, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall submit a joint report of their findings and recommendations under section 1, together with any necessary implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The committees may submit legislation relating to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to study the feasibility of establishing incentives or mandates to promote composting in the State. The departments are required to submit a joint report of their findings and recommendations, together with any necessary implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, which may submit legislation relating to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.