Additional Bill Links PDF (with line numbers)
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23
INTRODUCED BY J. PRICE
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY TO DETERMINE ECONOMIC FEASABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF AN ALUMINUM CAN DEPOSIT PROGRAM FOR CRAFT BREWERIES IN MONTANA; AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 66TH LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, Article IX, section 1(1), of the Montana Constitution declares that "The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations"; and
WHEREAS, Article IX, section 1(2), declares that "The legislature shall provide for the administration and enforcement of this duty"; and
WHEREAS, Article IX, section 1(3), declares that "The legislature shall provide adequate remedies for the protection of the environment life support system from degradation and provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources"; and
WHEREAS, recycling reduces pollution, conserves natural resources, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as methane gas, a major contributor to climate change, from landfill waste sites; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality reported an increase in waste diversion rates from 15% in 2003 to 21.9% in 2012; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Integrated Waste Management Act establishes solid waste reduction goals and targets and provides that it is "the goal of the state to reduce, through source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting, the amount of solid waste that is generated by households, businesses, and governments and that is either disposed of in landfills or burned in an incinerator"; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality reported that recycling results in economic growth, income growth, net job increases, long-term investment, energy savings, waste reduction, lower production costs for many industries, and an extension of landfill life, and container deposit programs are a proven, sustainable method of capturing beverage cans from recycling; and
WHEREAS, states that have passed legislation creating deposit programs have the highest aluminum can recycling rates, on average 74% or higher, while the recycling rate in nondeposit states is around 38%; and
WHEREAS, recycled aluminum saves 95% of energy in comparison to processing of virgin aluminum; and
WHEREAS, Montana craft breweries are increasingly using aluminum cans.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, or direct sufficient staff resources to study the economic feasability and environmental benefits of an aluminum can deposit program for craft breweries in Montana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the study examine how an aluminum can refundable deposit program paid for by the consumer would further diversion and recycling goals of the Montana Integrated Waste Management Act, including assessment of:
(1) commodity resale value for aluminum cans when collected;
(2) potential revenue streams from uncollected deposits to pay for kiosk drop-off locations and expansion of multipurpose curbside recycling bins;
(3) aluminum industry support;
(4) Montana craft brewery support;
(5) whether a state agency or a private organization is best situated to oversee uncollected deposits;
(6) the possibility of reducing litter on Montana roadways, parks, and municipalities; and
(7) the feasability of initiating a pilot program that utilizes existing aluminum can recycling systems.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the study is assigned to staff, any findings or conclusions be presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2018.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions, comments, or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 66th Legislature.
- END -
Latest Version of HJ
23 (HJ0023.01)
Processed for the Web on March 21, 2017 (5:30pm)
New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.
Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.
See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.
Status of this
Bill | 2017
Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill
(PDF format)
Authorized print version of this bill
w/line numbers (PDF format)
[ NEW
SEARCH ]
Prepared by Montana
Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064