I_ZeroWaste_2019A 09/10/2019 09:13:28 AM Committee Summary

Represenative Cutter called the meeting to order.  A meeting agenda was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).

Mark Easter, Colorado State University, presented to the committee on carbon sequestration and reducing trace gases in Colorado agriculture (Attachment B). He discussed the Paustian Research Group, which is based at Colorado State University.  He reviewed the role of agriculture in climate change.  He discussed carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. He reviewed aspects of managing the global carbon cycle and the carbon footprint for bread. He stated that tilling soil releases carbon and impacts soil health. He discussed how nitrous oxide is emitted from fertilizers. He discussed methane releases related to food and yard waste in landfills.

Mr. Easter discussed removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the Earth. He discussed aspects of carbon farming, such as composting, minimum tillage, use of cover crops, and reducing synthetic fertilizers. He discussed composting as it relates to agriculture.

Mr. Easter answered questions from the committee about composting, carbon levels, and carbon sequestration. He continued to respond to questions from the committee about composting, carbon releases due to changes in farming practices, and manure. Committee discussion with Mr. Easter ensued about carbon sequestration and farm practices.

Bob Yost, A1 Organics, presented to the committee on composting. He discussed that one of the benefits of composting is retaining moisture in soil. He outlined the differences between commercial composting and agriculture composting, which includes regulation by the Department of Public Health and Environment versus the Department of Agriculture. He stated that commercial composting includes residential composting and production waste. He outlined the materials composted through agricultural composting.

Dan Matsch, Eco-Cycle, discussed the Marin Carbon Project and market development for compost.

Mr. Yost discussed collaborative efforts in composting and healthy soil. He spoke about the costs and benefits of using composting in agriculture.

Mr. Yost answered questions from the committee about state taxes related to fertilizer versus compost. Mr. Matsch discussed providing incentive to farmers for sequestering carbon. Committee discussion with Mr. Yost ensued about farming related to composting and carbon sequestration. Mr. Yost responded to committee comments about possible changes to the tax code related to compost and fertilizer.

Dr. Phil Taylor, Mad Agriculture, presented to the committee on carbon farming and soil health policy, and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C).  Dr. Taylor reviewed soil health principles, soil health practices, and the benefits of carbon farming. He outlined some of the barriers to carbon farming, including costs and establishing markets. He refenced NORI, a carbon removal marketplace that is launching in 2020, which will pay farmers for storing carbon in the soil.

Max Neumeyer, Mad Agriculture, discussed states that have soil health policies. He specifically highlighted New Mexico, Nebraska, and California. Mr. Neumeyer discussed corporations that are making soil health a priority and markets for ecosystem services. He outlined obstacles to carbon farming, possible policy solutions, and soil health policies in Colorado.

Travis Hertenky, THEngineering, presented to the committee on zero waste and recycling in agriculture, and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D). Mr. Hertenky discussed his organization and the types of waste produced by farms, including manure, waste feed, mortalities, processing, and trash. He stated that there are no agricultural digesters in Colorado. He reviewed aspects of land application of manure. He discussed aspects of recycling in agriculture, including reuse of various food products, use of tires, and construction materials.

Jordan Beezley, Department of Agriculture, provided information about the department's role in soil health and composting. He discussed research being conducted by the department on soil health.

Ken Lipton, Shavano Conservation District, presented to the committee via phone conference. He discussed soil health and agriculture. He reviewed information related to carbon sequestration and the challenges to soil health, especially the recovery of upfront costs. He referenced the soil health resolutions being considered by the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts. Mr. Lipton outlined possible legislation, including grants for soil health projects and early adopters of soil health practices. He outlined the role of conservation districts in grant programs. He referenced the Shavano Conservation District's annual conference on soil health. Mr. Lipton discussed cap and trade programs for carbon emissions, financial incentives for organic and composted materials, and statewide programs for soil health.

The panel answered questions from the committee about a potential loan program for agriculture producers to address soil health. Mr. Lipton discussed cover crops. Mr. Neumeyer responded to questions about the role of federal government in addressing crop insurance. Mr. Hertenky answered questions about the use of waste tires in agriculture. The committee discussed carbon markets and the federal Conservation Reserve Program with the panel.

Damon Carson, Repurposed Materials, Inc., provided an overview of his company and the services they provide to those in the construction field.

Michael Stranford, Colorado Department of Transportation, discussed how the department uses repurposed asphalt in construction products. He discussed the use of recycled asphalt shingles and how they are only allowed on a project-by-project basis.

Russel Hawkins, Allied Recycled Aggregates, presented to the committee on recycled aggregates, and provided two handouts to the committee (Attachments E and F). He discussed recycled aggregates and how the process of recycling aggregates is similar to mining. Mr. Hawkins discussed recycling concrete and asphalt. Mr. Hawkins discussed the equipment used at fixed sites and job sites. He discussed the quality of the recycled products his company accepts. Mr. Hawkins reviewed the markets that recycled concrete and recycled asphalt are used in. He discussed aspects of the U.S. Geological Survey's annual survey on mined and recycled aggregates. He outlined the benefits of recycling concrete and asphalt.

Andrew DeBaise, Rocky Mountain Recycling, Inc., presented to the committee on recycling processes related to construction materials, and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment G).  He discussed scrap materials, such as steel and iron.  Mr. DeBaise reviewed information about material valuation and material management.

The panel answered questions from the committee about concrete recycling and how steel is removed from certain materials.

Dr. Ryan Richards, Colorado School of Mines, presented to the committee on the NEXUS Project and zero waste, and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment H). He discussed how materials are re-mined. He outlined the NEXUS Project, and discussed how it provides technical expertise, analyses, and policy expertise to the project partners. Dr. Richards outlined the workshops held as part of the NEXUS Project.

Dr. Birdie Carpenter, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), discussed some of the products that have challenges regarding recycling and waste disposal, like wind turbines and lithium-ion car batteries. She discussed composites and polymers.

Dr. Nancy Haegel, NREL, discussed the leveraging of existing programs and collaborations. She discussed federal programs that provide funding to develop commercial markets related to clean energy and zero waste technologies. She discussed the Advanced Energy Systems, which is a unique interdisciplinary program focused on energy sciences.

The panel answered questions about how the technologies being developed could be implemented, the re-mining of electric vehicle batteries, and the life cycle of solar panels. The panel addressed questions about how interested various industries are in partnering with the NEXUS Project to address single-use plastics.

The committee recessed for lunch.

The committee came back to order.

Suzanne Jones, Eco-Cycle, provided public testimony to the committee.  She discussed the work of the committee.

Ms. Jones answered questions from the committee about domestic markets for recyclables and providing a business personal property tax relief for new and existing business that participating in the recycling economy.  She provided a handout to the committee concerning recycling end-market development (Attachment I).

Dan Matsch, Eco-Cycle, provided public testimony to the committee. He discussed organics management for building health soils. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment J). Mr. Matsch answered question from the committee.

Adair Andre, Environment Colorado, provided public testimony to the committee. She discussed single-use plastics, like single-use plastic bags and food containers. Ms. Andre answered questions from the committee.

Max Neumeyer, Mad Agriculture, provided public testimony to the committee. He discussed funding for soil health programs and increasing funding for conservation districts. Mr. Neumeyer answered questions from the committee.

Shawn Bruckman joined Mr. Neumeyer to answer questions from the committee about the funding for conservation districts.

Colton Lowry, representing himself, provided public testimony to the committee. He referenced documents that he provided to the committee via email (Attachments K and L).  He discussed establishing a bottle deposit program and referenced Oregon's program. Mr. Lowry answered questions from the committee about Oregon's program and the correlation between bottle deposit program and other recycling. The committee continued to dialogued with Mr. Lowry about bottle deposit programs.

Shawn Bruckman, representing herself, provided public testimony to the committee. She discussed soil health and conservation districts.

Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, reviewed information about bill drafting for interim committees.

Representative Cutter made comments regarding the bill requests. Representative Froelich discussed reducing the amount of waste, increasing recycling, and ending the state preemption on plastic bans. She discussed end markets, environmental purchasing, carbon markets, and soil health. Representative Froelich discussed a state level administrator to oversee zero-waste and recycling efforts in the state. Senator Priola discussed glass recycling. Representative Arndt discussed the Energy Legislation Review Interim Study Committee's work on topics related to zero waste and recycling. Senator Coram discussed involving the Office of Economic Development and International Trade in end-market development. Committee discussion ensued about potential legislative ideas.

Senator Priola discussed reducing and recycling as two main concept for legislation.  Committee discussion continued about how to approach requesting legisaltion.

Mr. Sweetman responded to questions from the committee.

Committee discussion ensued about end-market development.

Ms. Jones returned to the table to address comments from the committee about end-market development and increasing recycling. She answered questions from the committee.

The committee discussed possible legislation to address education about recycling. Representative Cutter discussed creating a state administrator for recycling and zero waste.

Mr. Sweetman asked for designated committee members as point people for the bill drafts requested.  Representative Cutter and Senator Priola were designated as the point people for the bill concerning end-market development.  Senator Moreno was designated as the point person for the bill concerning a bottle redemption program.  Representative Froelich was designated as the point person for the bill concerning updating the state's purchasing practices for environmental preference.  Representative Cutter was designated as the point person for the bill concerning health soils.  Representatives Cutter and Arndt were designated as the point people for the bill concerning consumer education and an awareness campaign.

Representative Cutter made concluding remarks.