BILL NUMBER: S7809
SPONSOR: SALAZAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
establishing state composting programs
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would require state agencies to create composting
programs to separate organic waste from other types of waste so that it
can be processed appropriately.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Article 27 of the environmental conservation law to add
a new title 34 that Lays out the parameters of state composting
programs, including:
-defining "agency" and "compostable".
-establishing that the programs must be in effect one year after the
effective date of the legislation
-requiring that workplace notices be posted informing employees that
they must place compostable waste in containers separate from other
types of waste
-requiring that agencies arrange for the waste to be processed on-site
or transported to an appropriate waste processing facility
-requiring agencies to report data on collection and costs to the
department of environmental conservation
Section 2 provides the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Organic waste can be a valuable source of renewable energy, provided we
put systems in place to collect it and divert it from landfills where it
decays and produces the harmful greenhouse gas, methane. Composting not
only reduces the negative impact that decaying organics have on our
environment, it can also be a source of revenue if we choose to harness
it. If employees of state agencies composted their organic waste, our
state could divert 1.69 million pounds of organic waste from landfills
and generate revenue by selling it to landscapers and farmers, or by
using it for biogas.
Our state agencies can lead the way on making our state more sustainable
and environmentally friendly if we begin to think of organic waste as a
resource and establish a system of separating and putting to use organic
waste, rather than squandering it.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
SENATE:
2023-2024: S984 (Salazar)- Referred to Environmental Conservation
2021-2022: S5029 (Salazar)- Referred to Environmental Conservation
2019-2020: S5843 (Salazar)- Referred to Environmental Conservation
ASSEMBLY:
2023-2024: A2467 (Epstein)- Referred to Environmental Conservation
2021-2022: A3345 (Epstein)- Referred to Environmental Conservation
2019-2020: A6664 (Epstein)- Referred td Environmental Conservation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately after becoming law