HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 114
(By Delegates Fleischauer, Beach, Brown, Burdiss, Canterbury,
Doyle, Ellis, Fragale, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hatfield, Hrutkay,
Klempa, Long, Longstreth, Mahan, Manchin, Miley, Moore, Palumbo,
Perdue, Rodighiero, Shook, Staggers, Tabb, Talbott, Wells and
Wysong)
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
authorize a study of litter and landfill avoidance, beverage
container recycling and litter control systems.
Whereas, In order for the State of West Virginia to meet the
requirements of the West Virginia Recycling Act, which mandates
recycling goals of fifty percent by the first day of January, two
thousand ten, it is imperative that new opportunities for recycling
be developed; and
Whereas, Beverage containers are the most valuable and
recyclable commodity in the waste stream and make up a significant
portion of the state's litter and that the discarding of these
containers is an unnecessary addition to the state's litter problem
and its solid waste disposal system; and
Whereas, A beverage container deposit law would result in the
development of hundreds of new jobs for West Virginians; and
Whereas, A deposit system for beverage containers, similar to
those in place in other states, would place a small refundable
deposit on beverages sold in West Virginia, would reduce the volume of waste and litter, increase recycling opportunities, build upon
the existing recycling infrastructure and create new jobs and wider
employment in the recycling industry; and
Whereas, Landfills are expensive and existing landfills can
damage nearby soil and streams; and
Whereas, Recycling results in less use of landfills; and
Whereas, In the United States, an estimated 120 million barrels
of oil are required to produce the one billion plastic bags used
annually; and
Whereas, Plastic bags are produced by two nonrenewable sources,
petroleum and natural gas; and
Whereas, Large amounts of global warming gases are released
during the production, transportation and disposal of plastic bags;
and
Whereas, Plastic bags do not biodegrade, they photodegrade and
leave toxic particles behind; and
Whereas, In addition to landscape pollution, West Virginia has
a large amount of streams and wildlife that are harmed by the
improper disposal of plastic bags; and
Whereas, A phased-in ban would slowly decrease the usage of
plastic bags and encourage consumers to use their own cloth bags;
and
Whereas, Governments throughout the United States and the world
have placed a tax on single use plastic bags and others have outlawed them; and
Whereas, Government policies can be used to curtail certain
acts deemed harmful to society; and
Whereas, Encouraging recycling under a "pay as you throw"
system where consumer pay per bag of trash bag, instead of one set
fee no matter the amount of refuse produced, would also decrease
the amount of trash sent to landfills; and
Whereas, A bottle deposit system, plastic bag ban and mandatory
recycling goals would improve the aesthetic value of West Virginia,
reduce pollution and generate revenue; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study litter and landfill avoidance, beverage
container recycling, litter and trash control systems; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the Regular Session of the Legislature, 2009, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the legislative expenses necessary to
conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.
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