SB1775 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 11266 AWJ 21602 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB1775

Introduced 2/9/2017, by Sen. Don Harmon

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

65 ILCS 5/11-19-15 new

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Creates the Municipal Task Force on Recycling Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions to review the status of municipal policies and programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationally and internationally. Provides that the review shall include, but not be limited to, specified greenhouse gas initiatives. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its review. Provides that the Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than one year after the effective date. Contains provisions concerning the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall be appointed no later than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the provisions creating and concerning the Task Force shall be repealed 2 years after the effective date.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Section 11-19-15 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-19-15 new)

Sec. 11-19-15. Municipal Task Force on Recycling Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

(a) Landfills are useful resources for the disposal of discarded materials. Recycling and composting are also useful resources to divert materials from landfills and return discarded materials to the secondary markets thereby generating economic benefits and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The most significant greenhouse gas produced from waste is methane. Methane is released during the breakdown of organic matter in landfills. Waste prevention and recycling help address global climate change by decreasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and saves energy according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, "Task Force" means the Municipal Task Force on Recycling Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

(c) The Municipal Task Force on Recycling Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions is hereby created to review the status of municipal policies and programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationally and internationally. The goal of the Task Force is to investigate and provide recommendations on municipal initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas reduction in a manner that protects the environment, as well as public health, and promotes economic development through recycling and calculates greenhouse gas reductions based on recycling and composting.

The Task Force's review shall include, but not be limited to, initiatives that divert the following materials from landfills in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: carpet, corrugated containers, office paper, aluminum cans, newspaper, magazines, polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene plastics, steel cans, dimensional lumber, and food scrap. The review shall consider the amount of greenhouse gas that can be reduced by recycling or composting such materials. The review shall also evaluate the extent to which greenhouse gas reduction projects benefit the public health and provide economic value.

The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its review. The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

The Task Force shall consist of the following 13 members appointed as follows:

(1) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her representative;

(2) the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her representative;

(3) four persons appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to represent municipalities;

(4) two persons appointed by the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency to represent environmental organizations;

(5) four persons appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to represent recyclers and composters;

(6) one person appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to support administrative planning and to draft the findings and recommendations of the Task Force.

The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, or their representatives, shall co-chair and facilitate the Task Force. The members of the Task Force shall be appointed no later than 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. Vacancies in the membership of the Task Force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The members of the Task Force shall not receive compensation for serving as members of the Task Force.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide the Task Force with administrative and other support.

This Section is repealed 2 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.