Resolve, To Examine Environmental Effects of the Dual Recovery System for Beverage Containers
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0733
Committee Amendment CA_A-SA_A_S284 (Senate)

SENATE AMENDMENT "Jr' to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 270, 
L.D. 733, "Resolve, To Examine Environmental Effects of the Dual Recovery System for 
Beverage Containers" 
Amend the amendment by striking out all of sections 1 and 2 and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. Work group to oversee study of environmental effects of laws and 
programs regarding recycling. Resolved: That a 5-member work group consisting 
of the Director of the State Planning Office within the Executive Department or the 
director's designee, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources or the 
commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the. 
commissioner's designee, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development 
or the commissioner's designee and a representative of the Maine Municipal Association 
shall oversee a 2-year study to be performed by an independent private entity to review 
the focus on the environmental effects that laws and programs regarding recycling have 
generated. The representatives of the State Planning Office and the Department of 
Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall serve as cochairs of the work group. The 
work group shall engage the assistance of a qualified consultant in the relevant fields and 
tasks to be reviewed. The study must include an assessment of: 
1. Current recycling rates; 
2. The carbon footprints created by the beverage container recycling laws and 
municipal recycling programs; 
3. Comprehensive recycling programs in the State; 
4. Barriers to comprehensive recycling; 
5. Alternative models of sustainability; 
6. Energy and economic efficiencies; 
7. The effect of educational programs on recycling rates; 
8. The potential roles of and opportunities for redemption center businesses as the 
technology advances in recycling programs; and 
9. Litter prevention and waste reduction efforts; and be it further 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
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SENATE AMENDMENT" A" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 270, L.D. 733 
Sec. 2. Funding sources. Resolved: 
That the expert .consultant and study 
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described in section I must be funded through private funds.receiv.e..d:.b)L.the State from.·~,-,,-,~..\ . 
outside sources and dedicated.to this project. The w0rk·grotip:descdbedjrj:s~ctio"n J .ghaW:<=~~.;:":.;.";.,,. 
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determine and administer any private funds received with respect to the tasks identified in .. ' ", 
II 
section I. The work group has sole discretion to determine how any private funds 
received to conduct this study are spent and, depending upon the amount of private funds 
received, the order in which the 9 items set forth in section I should be assessed. The 
work group may rely upon existing data, other studies and any other information it 
considers pertinent in order to complete the assessment described in section I. When 
private funds are received, the Executive Department, State Planning Office and the 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall notify the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic 
development matters; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Reporting date. Resolved: That the study described in section I must be 
IS 
completed no later than January IS, 2012, unless a one-year extension is necessary to 
complete the study. 
The work group shall provide an update to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic 
development matters on January IS, 2010 and again on January IS, 2011 as to the 
progress of and any initial findings from the study; and be it further' 
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter 
or section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment provides that a 5-member work group consisting of the Director of 
the State Planning Office within the Executive Department or the director's designee, the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources or the commissioner's designee, 
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee, the 
Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's 
designee and a representative of the Maine Municipal Association oversee a 2-year study 
to be performed by an independent private entity to review the focus on the 
environmental effects that laws and programs regarding recycling have generated. The 
representatives of the State Planning Office and the Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources shall serve as cochairs of the work group. The work group shall engage 
the assistance of a qualified consultant in the relevant fields and tasks to be reviewed. 
The expert consultant and study m~st be fu!!~ed through private ~unds recet\jed by the 
State from outside sources. 
SPONSORED BY: 
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COUNTY: Penobscot 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED '. 
(See Attached) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
) 
) 
Due to its omission 
in printing, 
the Fiscal Note is supplied here 
from an electronic file copy. 
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Approved: 05/31/09 frac:: 
LD733 
LR 1781(05) 
Resolve, To Examine Environmental Effects of the Dual Recovery System for Beverage Containers 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment" A "to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Sen. Schneider of Penobscot 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This amendment directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Economic and 
Community Development (DECD) to participate with the State Planning Office and the Department of Agriculture's 
study of the environmental effects oflaws and programs regarding recycling and to provide a report on the findings. 
Additional costs to DEP and DECD associated with participating in the work group and other administrative duties 
can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. A representative of the Maine Municipal Association will also be 
invited to participate. 
LRl781(05) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1