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I_ZeroWaste_2019A 07/10/2019 09:09:58 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM COMMITTEE  ZERO WASTE AND RECYCLING INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE
Date 07/10/2019
Attendance
Arndt X
Catlin E
Coram E
Foote *
Froelich X
Pelton E
Priola X
Story X
Moreno *
Cutter X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Time 09:09:58 AM to 03:36:35 PM
Place HCR 0112
This Meeting was called to order by Representative Cutter
This Report was prepared by Andrea Denka
Hearing Items Action Taken
Introduction of Committee Members and Nonpartisan Staff Committee Discussion Only
Presentation on Zero Waste and Recent Legislation Committee Discussion Only
Scope of Issue with Zero Waste and Recycling Committee Discussion Only
State of the State: Current State Programs Committee Discussion Only
Break Committee Discussion Only
Presentations on Waste Management Committee Discussion Only
Presentations on Recycling and Composting Committee Discussion Only
Public Testimony Committee Discussion Only

Introduction of Committee Members and Nonpartisan Staff - Committee Discussion Only
09:10:32 AM  

Representative Cutter, chair, provided introductory remarks.  Representative Cutter spoke on the need of the committee and the importance of studying zero waste and recycling in Colorado.  A meeting agenda was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).  
09:11:02 AM  

Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, gave an overview of the bill drafting process for interim committees.
09:15:43 AM  

Clare Pramuk, Legislative Council Staff, gave a brief overview of the fiscal notes process for interim committees.



Presentation on Zero Waste and Recent Legislation - Committee Discussion Only

09:16:26 AM  
Andrea Denka, Legislative Council Staff,
provided an overview of the committee charge memorandum (Attachment B)
and discussed upcoming committee meetings.  She discussed a recent
issue brief concerning zero waste and zero waste programs around the country
(Attachment C).
09:20:55 AM  
Clare Pramuk, Legislative Council Staff,
discussed a memorandum summarizing state programs related to waste management,
recycling, and composting (Attachment D).  She responded to questions
from the committee regarding the disposal of
technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM).



Scope of Issue with Zero Waste and Recycling - Committee Discussion Only
09:23:49 AM  
Jennifer Schultz, Program Principal at
the National Conference of State Legislatures, presented on zero waste
and recycling policies around the country (Attachment E).  This presentation
focused on how state legislatures have addressed zero waste and recycling
through recent legislation.  Ms. Schultz responded to questions from
the committee about single-use plastic ban legislation.
09:40:22 AM  
David Snapp, Solid Waste Management Unit
Leader at the Colorado Department of Public Health ad Environment (CDPHE),
presented on the state of zero waste and recycling in Colorado (Attachment
F).  Mr. Snapp presented on Colorado's waste diversion rates, how
Colorado compares to other states, and the energy savings accumulated from
recycling and composting.
09:56:04 AM  

Mr. Snapp responded to questions from the committee about commercial versus residential recycling rates, how China's recycling policies are impacting Colorado's recycling efforts, and how Colorado's energy savings from recycling is calculated.



State of the State: Current State Programs - Committee Discussion Only
10:03:05 AM  
Rachel Wilson-Roussel, Sustainability Unit
Manager at CDPHE, presented on current state programs addressing zero waste
and recycling (Attachment G).  Ms. Wilson-Roussel described CDPHE's
recycling grant program and how they have helped numerous organizations
increase their recycling rates.  
10:25:56 AM  

Mr. Snapp presented on Colorado's waste and diversion studies, CDPHE minigrants, and the Front Range Waste Diversion Entreprise Fund.  Mr. Snapp responded to questions from the committee about CDPHE's waste tire program.

10:33:59 AM  

Rick Lee, Division Director of the Division of Capital Assets at the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA), presented on the State Capitol and the Capitol Complex recycling programs.  Mr. Lee discussed DPA's current recycling program that utilizes single-stream recycling bins and how often the state collects recyclables.  

10:39:44 AM  

Mr. Lee responded to questions from the committee about LED lighting in the Capitol and monetary benefits of LED lighting versus traditional lightbulbs.  

10:43:41 AM  
Sarah Andrews, Chief of Staff for the Office
of Economic Development and Trade, presented on economic programs addressing
recycling in Colorado and provided a handout (Attachment H) to the committee.
 Ms. Andrews responded to committee questions about how to encourage
more businesses that focus on zero wate and recycling to come to Colorado.
 
11:05:42 AM  

The committee recessed for lunch.



Break - Committee Discussion Only



Presentations on Waste Management - Committee Discussion Only

01:00:44 PM  

The committee returned to order.

01:00:45 PM  

Cathy Hall, Solid Waste Manager for Pitkin County, presented on Pitkin county's solid waste program, and provided two handouts (Attachments I and J) to the committee.  Ms. Hall presented on the operations of the Pitkin county landfill, its diversion programs, and how the county has increased composting rates.

01:28:05 PM  

Matt Chrisp, Supervisor for the Logan County Landfill, presented on Logan county's waste management program and provided a handout (Attachment K).  Mr. Chrisp described the difficulties with funding a rural landfill and fees associated with recycling certain materials.  

01:51:48 PM  

Mr. Chrisp responded to questions from the committee about recycling redemption centers, incentives to improve recycling rates in rural areas, and what policies would help rural landfills divert more waste.



Presentations on Recycling and Composting - Committee Discussion Only

01:56:44 PM  
Suzanne Jones, Executive Director of Eco-Cycle,
presented on the work of her organization and provided two handouts (Attachments
L and M) to the committee.  Ms. Jones presented on the work of Eco-Cycle
and what kinds of policies they believe would increase recycling and composting
rates around Colorado.  
02:17:02 PM  

Ms. Jones responded to questions from the committee about sinlge-use plastics bans around the state.

02:18:43 PM  
Charlotte Pitt, Solid Waste Management
and Denver Recycles Interim Director, presented on the work of her organization
(Attachment N).  Ms. Pitt described the waste management and recycling
services offered by Denver and its composting program.
02:35:31 PM  

Ms. Pitt responded to questions from the committee about e-waste in Denver.

02:39:00 PM  

Tyler Bandemer, Loveland Solid Waste Superintendent, presented on the work of his organization (Attachment O).  Mr. Bandemer presented on Loveland's solid waste management program and how the city uses a fee structure to fund the program.  He also desribed the city's work on recycling glass and green waste.  

02:57:35 PM  

Mr. Bandemer responded to questions about Loveland's diversion fees.

02:59:22 PM  

Ms. Pitt, Mr. Bandemer, and Ms. Jones responded to questions about single-waste stream recycling versus separate recycling containers.

03:04:27 PM  
Brent Hildebrand, AMP Robotics, gave an
overview of the work of his organization (Attachment P).  Mr. Hildebrand
presented on his organization's work creating robotics to sort recycling
materials.  He responded to questions about Chinese companies building
recycling infrastructure in the United States.  



Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only
03:21:54 PM  

Jon Etra, representing himself, testified on his support for the committee.

03:27:07 PM  
Tim Lopez, representing himself, testified
on his support for the committee.


03:36:35 PM   The committee adjourned.






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