2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 5 - Environment (§§ 1120 — 1436) › Chapter 127A - Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling (§§ 1320 — 1320u) › § 1320n - Applicability—Commonwealth agencies and public corporations

(a) It shall be the responsibility of the public corporations and agencies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico:
(1) To establish a program, in coordination with the Authority, for the separation and collection of recyclable material generated in their facilities.
(2) To establish procedures for the collection, transportation, and storage of recyclable material.
(3) Modify their purchasing and bidding procedures to give preference to products and materials with recyclable or recycled content provided they are available at a reasonable price.
(4) To render a report to the municipality which, in turn, shall render a semiannual report to the Solid Waste Authority stating the achievements and limitations encountered in the implementation of the recycling program. This report shall be rendered twice a year during the first two (2) years the plan is implemented, period [sic] after which it shall be rendered annually.
(5) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2000-02, [to] purchase 50% recycled fiber paper so that every agency, public corporation, government dependency and instrumentality may increase the purchasing percentage of 50% recycled fiber paper by [five percent] (5%) per fiscal year, until reaching [one hundred percent] (100%), using as a base the data developed for the Fiscal Year 2000-2001.
(b) The Administration of Economic Development of Puerto Rico and the Industrial Development Company shall promote the participation of industries and businesses in the development and implementation of this chapter. They shall collaborate with the Authority in:
(1) Identifying and analyzing the present and potential market for recycled material.
(2) Inform industries and businesses about the benefits of using recycled or recyclable materials and products in their operations.
(3) The distribution of informative material on the content and scope of this chapter.
(c) The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority shall collaborate with the Authority in the analysis of the potential market for compost material and the possible distribution and sale thereof.
(d) The Department of Education, in conjunction with the public and private colleges and universities, shall draft guidelines, in coordination with the Authority, to promote the collection and separation of recyclable material at the educational institutions of the Country.
(e) The public educational institutions, in coordination with the Authority, shall incorporate courses related to the reduction, reuse and recycling of solid waste into their curricula. In addition, they shall collaborate with the Authority in the development of research projects related to this chapter. The Department of Education, beginning in Fiscal Year 2001-02, shall implement recycling programs in each of its schools, which shall be coordinated with the municipality where the school is located. For statistical purposes, and as a supervision measure, each school shall render a semiannual report describing the achievements and limitations encountered in the implementation of the recycling plan. This report shall be rendered twice a year during the first two (2) years of its implementation, period [sic] after which it shall be rendered annually.
In the cases in which educational institutions and/or schools are not able to implement said program as established in this chapter, a work plan shall be presented to facilitate the attainment of the goals. Said work plan could include alternate activities that would allow that the recycling goal established be met. The work plan shall be presented to the Solid Waste Authority on or before December 31, 2001.
History —Sept. 18, 1992, No. 70, § 16, renumbered as § 18 by § 13 and amended by § 15 on Jan. 20, 1995, No. 13, § 13; Oct. 8, 2000, No. 411, § 3.