Bill > H705

This bill reinstates the Clean Environment Fund, which will be funded by unredeemed bottle bill deposits, to support waste reduction and environmental protection programs in the Commonwealth. The fund will allocate at least sixty percent of its money to waste reduction, recycling, and composting initiatives, including outreach, infrastructure, and market development across public, private, and institutional sectors, as outlined in the Department of Environmental Protection's Solid Waste Management Plan. Additionally, at least one percent of the fund will be used by the Office of the State Auditor for oversight of the bottle deposit law and fund expenditures, which includes investigating fraud and reviewing how money is spent. The remaining funds will be used for capital improvements by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Parks, for construction projects that meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building standards, a certification system for green buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The bill also specifies qualifying programs for funding, such as municipal and school recycling improvements, commercial and institutional recycling programs, grants for recycling service providers, and enforcement of waste bans. Furthermore, it mandates the creation of programs to increase recycling opportunities on property controlled by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and within publicly owned facilities. Finally, the bill requires an evaluation of the fund's funding level every five years to adjust it based on need.