SPONSOR: Knight
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Economic Development by a vote of 6 to 3. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 6 to 3.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 2485.
This bill defines certain terms including, but not limited to, "advanced recycling", "advanced recycling facility", "post-use polymer", "recovered feedstock", and "recycled plastics". The bill specifies that an advanced recycling facility, is not subject to the solid waste processing facility operating permit requirements and no permit is required for the use of advanced recycling at an advanced recycling facility, as long as the feedstocks received by such facility are source-separated or diverted or recovered from municipal or other waste streams prior to acceptance at the advanced recycling facility.
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the bill eliminates plastic waste, styrofoam, plastic wrappers, etc. from landfills to become recyclable products. It removes regulatory burdens to enhance technological advancements and economic investment opportunities in the state. At least 15 states has passed advanced recycling legislation. The goal is to have the manufacturing processes located in the United States.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Knight; Associated Industries of Missouri; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and the American Chemistry Council.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that there are concerns with the statutory definitions of advanced recycling, chemical conversion and recovered feedstock. The terms recycled content and plastics are used synonymously. No detrimental effect has been seen in other states that have enacted similar legislation although the concept of recycled content is new in Missouri. The conversion of plastics into diesel fuels releases environmental toxins, carbons in the atmosphere, that impacts climate change.
Testifying against the bill were Arnie C. Ac Dienoff; Mid America Chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries; and Sierra Club Missouri Chapter.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say if the material is recyclable, it is not trash, and sorting of the recyclable commodities should be in compliance with the law. The concepts of innovation and investment opportunities in Missouri drive the need for change. While chemical conversion ( recycling ) should be kept out of the realm of solid waste, it should not be at the expense of proven recycling that works, and successfully returns valuable raw materials into the manufacturing supply chain year in and year out keeping those materials out of the landfills. The bill should advance all recycling, improve raw material supply chains, and strengthen the essential national infrastructure.
Testifying on the bill were Danielle Waterfield, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI); and Sonny's Solid Waste.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: