Opinion ID: 1952246
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Recycling Act

Text: Francis cites two provisions in the Solid Waste Management and Multi-Material Recycling Act, D.C. Law 7-226 (1989), codified at D.C.Code §§ 6-3401 to -3423 (1995 Repl.) (hereinafter Recycling Act). Under § 12 of the Recycling Act, D.C.Code § 6-3411(a), [t]he Director of the Department of Public Works shall enter into contracts or agreements to market recyclable materials. The same act also gives the Mayor authority to enter into contracts to establish the multi-material buy-back center mandated by § 6-3410. See id. §§ 6-3410(a), -3411(a). The Mayor delegated his authority regarding establishment of the buy-back facility to the Director of DPW. Mayor's Order 89-160, 36 D.C.Reg. 5690 (1989). Francis therefore argues that the contracting power in these sections provides her with authority to seek judicial review of CAB decisions relating to these contracts. Again, we reject Francis's statutory interpretation. She has cited no statutory language or legislative history that would indicate any desire by the Council to modify the system established by the Procurement Practices Act. To accept Francis's argument, we would have to conclude that whenever a statute bearing on procurement does not specify that the Procurement Practices Act in all respects applies, various involved District officials may litigate as they wish. Such a ruling would defeat the intended legislative purpose of a universal procurement system. Nor can the Mayor's delegation of authority over the buy-back facility clothe Francis with power to initiate this litigation. The Mayor cannot delegate power the Mayor does not have. Since nothing in the buy-back facility authorization indicates that the Mayor could circumvent the Procurement Practices Act, Francis cannot claim that the Mayor's delegation gives her the power to do so herself.