Bill > H823

This bill, the NC Managing Environmental Waste Act of 2019, proposes several key changes: 1. It amends the distribution of taxes received from the Solid Waste Disposal Tax, allocating 5% of the funds to cities and counties that provide plastics recycling services, to be used for plastics recycling and single-use plastics waste reduction programs. 2. It requires state departments, agencies, and schools to report annually on their purchases of materials and supplies with recycled content, as well as the amounts of materials collected for recycling within their operations. 3. It directs the Environmental Review Commission to study the issue of single-use plastics, examining environmental impacts, recycling markets, and potential regulations in other states. 4. It mandates the Legislative Services Officer and the Division of Services for the Blind to implement pilot programs to eliminate the use of single-use plastics in food establishments operated by the General Assembly and selected state agencies, respectively. The bill defines "single-use plastics" as non-recyclable and non-compostable disposable food service items such as plates, cups, utensils, and containers. The majority of the bill's provisions become effective in July 2020, with the remaining sections taking effect upon becoming law.