National Legislation
by Laurie Batchelder Adams

Winter 2006

In addition to the daily running of the SWANA organization, SWANA legislative advocacy staff and technical division directors continually monitor congressional activities, as well as a number of pro-active measures. Some of SWANA’s recent activities are noted below:

SWANA teamed with NSWMA to support EPA’s implementation of the Research, Development and Demonstration Rule allowing state programs to issue permits for landfill bioreactor R&D (in November, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed a challenge from the Gras Roots Recycling Network);
SWANA’s Waste Reduction, Recycling & Composting Division worked with staff and U.S. Senator James Jeffords to introduce an unsuccessful Recycling Incentives Saves Energy (RISE) bill in 2005 – in 2006 we are working with several trade groups including the Glass Packaging Institute and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries to re-introduce the bill (is expected to have tax incentives on new and existing equipment associated with diverting paper, containers and organics materials);
Both the U.S. House and Senate will announce the formation of a Recycling Caucus later this month or in February – while no agenda has been set, SWANA expects to contribute in both houses (U.S. Senator Salazar is expected to participate);
On-going tracking of such congressional bills as HR 4316 (would reduce electronic waste through recycling) and HR 4384 (would improve energy efficiency).

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