SB3451 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 23704 RJF 32890 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3451

Introduced 1/18/2022, by Sen. Laura Fine

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 490/77 new

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the first full week of May is designated as Compost Awareness Week to be observed throughout the State as a week to recognize and promote the importance of composting and the use of compost in growing healthier food, supporting healthier soils, and creating a more sustainable world, and shall include all relevant activities connected to the annual theme of International Compost Awareness Week.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares the following:

(1) Composting is an effective form of waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, and since organic materials make up approximately 30% of the material going into landfills, composting is becoming one of the primary methods communities use to reach waste diversion goals and create sustainable communities.

(2) Organic residual materials, including yard trimmings, vegetable cuttings, biosolids, food scraps, manures, and hay shavings, have been composted and converted into a beneficial product known as compost.

(3) Returning organic resources, remanufactured into compost, to the soil reduces water consumption by over 30% for all soil types, conserves water during extreme drought or flooding conditions, decreases dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and decreases erosion and nonpoint source pollution.

(4) Communities, through their local governments, highway departments, soil conservation services, and public works professionals, can have positive impacts on clean water, soil, climate change, and landfill diversion by using compost for public works projects.

(5) Composting creates green jobs and infrastructure for cities and states that implement composting programs.

(6) International Compost Awareness Week is a multimedia publicity and educational initiative designed to showcase compost production and demonstrate compost use and is supported by compost industry organizations from around the world.

(7) The many benefits of composting should be recognized and promoted throughout the State of Illinois on annual basis.

Section 5. The State Commemorative Dates Act is amended by adding Section 77 as follows:

(5 ILCS 490/77 new)

Sec. 77. Compost Awareness Week. The first full week of May is designated as Compost Awareness Week to be observed throughout the State as a week to recognize and promote the importance of composting and the use of compost in growing healthier food, supporting healthier soils, and creating a more sustainable world, and shall include all relevant activities connected to the annual theme of International Compost Awareness Week.