HB1512: Waste diversion and recycling.

Legislative Summary

Waste diversion and recycling. Renames the central Indiana waste diversion pilot project the "central Indiana waste diversion project" (project). Establishes two new purposes for the project: (1) advancing research and development to enhance existing waste diversion efforts and supporting the creation of new processes and technologies that expand upon the existing universe of waste diversion and reuse of recyclable material; and (2) supporting recycling technology or programs for the return, collection, and sorting of recyclable glass, aluminum, or plastic beverage containers that are accessible to the general public and are operated by a retail merchant, a professional sports or entertainment venue, an airport, an elementary school or high school, or an institution of higher education. Extends the duration of the project from three years to four years. Requires the beginning of a second round of grant applications and awards. Provides that, in the second round, private sector persons and companies located in Hamilton, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Hendricks, and Boone Counties (in addition to Marion County) may apply for grants from the program. Grant applicants must provide a financial match as determined by the Indiana recycling market development board (board). Requires the department of environmental management, for purposes of the second round, to develop and distribute grant application forms, accept grant applications, and make recommendations to the board. Authorizes the board to request additional information from a grant applicant if the board determines that the information provided does not meet certain requirements and to reopen the application process if the board determines that none of the applications submitted meet the goals of the project. Requires the board, in the second round, to award not more than a total of $2,000,000 to grant applicants. Requests the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying various recycling topics.