​THE PROBLEM

• Over $125 million a year wasted combating local litter & illegal dumping

  • (Source: 2019 Texas Litter Survey, 2015 Cost of Litter Study, 2018 Dallas Cost of Litter Study)

• Local monthly trash fees are rising as high as 33% in Fort Worth alone

  • (Source: Local Fee Analysis, 2022)

• Businesses have major manufacturing need for feedstock, additional collections

• Federal mandates threaten state & local control while restricting Texas businesses

  • (Protecting Communities From Plastics Act)

• Texas ranks 42nd in recycling nationwide—behind Iowa and Florida.

 

OUR PRO-BUSINESS, PRO-TAXPAYER SOLUTION

 

Texas needs a policy that provides a financial incentive for public and private participation and critical, convenient collection infrastructure for recyclable materials. This policy will:

• Reduce litter and illegal dumping – lowering costs to taxpayers and saving Texas money!

  • (Source: https://www.bottlebill.org/index.php/benefits-of-bottle-bills/bottle-bills-prevent-litter)

• Increase recycling rates, grow the Texas economy, and reduce future need for landfill expansion!

  • (Source: https://frontiergroup.org/articles/power-nickel-bottle-bills-and-producer-responsibility/)

 

Even at the currently low recycling rates, the overall impact of recycling on Texas' economy included nearly 23,000 jobs across the state in 2019. This number accounts for 6,843 jobs collecting materials, 3,717 jobs sorting and processing recyclables into usable manufacturing feedstock, and 128 jobs transporting materials to manufacturers. Other jobs supported include those related to constructing new recycling facilities and manufacturing the trucks and equipment used by the recycling sector.

 

Recycling contributed more than $4.8 billion to the Texas economy in 2019 in the form of new wages, benefits, and the value of materials made with recycled feedstock.

 

In addition to employment, workers’ wages, and other economic benefits, Texas’ recycling industry also generates revenue for state and local governments. In 2019, the recycling industry generated more than $166.1 million in public revenue. Within this total was almost $78.0 million in sales tax revenue and $67.4 million in property taxes. Other taxes, fines, and fees paid to local and state governments totaled $20.7 million.

 

RECYCLING REFUND/DEPOSIT PROGRAMS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC

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TEXAS PLASTIC RECYCLING COMMODITY BOARD

 

The Texas Plastic Recycling Commodity Board will be a 501c3 non-profit organization for producers of plastic food and beverage containers in Texas, not including animal feed, dairy, infant or medical food, or required nutritional supplement containers.

 

The producer organization will be made up of those who are initially responsible for the plastic material being introduced into the state—being either those that manufacture, maintain the brand license, and/or distribute or sell covered material in Texas.

 

Producers will provide  the comptroller a plan to create a 501c3 non-profit. This non-profit will oversee the building of convenient away-from-home recycling collection infrastructure, including from rural and remote areas of the state.

It will provide a financial incentive for consumers to return covered material, meet recycling targets, and communicate to the public where and how to return plastic material for a refund.

 

The comptroller will consult with stakeholders and the public before approving the producer organization plan.

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Producers must join the organization to sell, distribute, or import covered material in the state. The organization will charge membership fees generally proportionate to the amount of material produced and the suitability for recycling in order to operate and maintain collection centers and pay a financial incentive for the return of material.

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Recycling targets for covered material sold, distributed, and/or imported into the state:

• 35% by 2027

• 50% by 2031

• 65% by 2035

• Maintain an average of 65% for subsequent years

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If recycling rates aren’t met, the producer organization must take corrective action by increasing public outreach and the amount of financial incentives paid to consumers. The comptroller may require the organization to reimburse the state for grants allotted for infrastructure on continues non-compliance.

 

The producer organization may develop labeling standards and accept additional materials if determined commercially feasible. 

 

The state may appropriate up to $50M from the balance of an unexpended solid waste fund for the construction of collection facilities in accordance with the producer organization plan.