NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9493
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
recovery, reuse and recycling of hardcover books
PURPOSE:
To facilitate the recovery, reuse, and recycling of hardcover books and
avoid their disposal as solid waste.
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law is amended
by adding a new title 34. Section 2. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
There are substantial quantities of hardcover books being deposited into
landfills and incinerators, despite the availability of markets for
their processing and recycling. Recycling and reprocessing of soft cover
books has been occurring for years as mixed paper in residential and
commercial recycling programs. Historically, hardcover books have faced
obstacles to recycling principally due to their bindings and covers.
However, it now appears that recycling of hardcover books is both
economically and environmentally viable.
Because hardcover books are often collected with other paper, it is
difficult to obtain accurate recycling information, Hardcover books are
frequently collected at no cost by recyclers, and the source agencies
seldom keep records on these quantities. In general, residential curb-
side collection programs process hardcover books as mixed paper; there-
fore, it is difficult to quantify collection costs. Many libraries and
schools maintain separate storage, but savings from reduced garbage
collection and disposal offset these costs.
The Assembly Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management recently
conducted a survey of the State's larger-cities and their counties.
Responses were received from the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority,
Broome County, City of Rochester, Erie County and Onondaga County, all
of which have recycled hardcover books. All reported significant quanti-
ties of hardcover books recovered, including Onondaga County, which
reported 660 tons of these books recovered between 2004 and 2010. Indi-
vidual counties identified some issues for hardcover book recycling,
including lack of consistent reliable markets (Oneida-Herkimer), and
adequate shipping containers (Onondaga County). Only Onondaga County
identified the cost of recovering and recycling hardcover books as a
consideration.
The NYS Office of General Services (OGS) receives approximately 4 tons
of hard and soft cover books monthly through their recycling program at
the Empire State Plaza. According to OGS, all of their facilities state-
wide recycle paper, including hardcover books.
Small and large-scale companies have begun collecting hardcover books.
Both types of companies find that reliable sources of these books are
the limiting factor to expanding the collection. These companies note
that technological advances in shredding and processing at the paper
mills are overcoming the problems of processing and recycling hardcover
bindings and covers.
This legislation will facilitate the recycling of hardcover books and
prevent their disposal as solid waste in New York.
RACIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
TBD.
GENDER JUSTICE IMPACT:
TBD.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A5956; referred to environmental conservation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9493
IN ASSEMBLY
March 14, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
recovery, reuse and recycling of hardcover books
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law is amended
2 by adding a new title 34 to read as follows:
3 TITLE 34
4 HARDCOVER BOOK RECOVERY, REUSE AND RECYCLING
5 Section 27-3401. Definition.
6 27-3403. Disposal of hardcover books; prohibited.
7 27-3405. Department responsibilities.
8 27-3407. Responsibilities of municipalities.
9 27-3409. Hardcover book recyclers.
10 § 27-3401. Definition.
11 As used in this title, "hardcover book" means a book bound in cloth,
12 cardboard or leather. Such term shall not include paperback books.
13 § 27-3403. Disposal of hardcover books; prohibited.
14 It shall be unlawful to dispose of a hardcover book as solid waste or
15 to incinerate a hardcover book.
16 § 27-3405. Department responsibilities.
17 The department shall:
18 1. inventory existing voluntary municipal solid waste management
19 programs that include recovery, reuse and recycling of hardcover books
20 and make the information derived from such inventory available to all
21 municipalities. When municipalities establish their permanent programs,
22 this information shall also be shared with other municipalities;
23 2. prominently post information about municipal hardcover book recov-
24 ery, reuse, and recycling programs on its website; and
25 3. ensure that all municipalities are notified of the hardcover book
26 disposal prohibition and the requirements of this title.
27 § 27-3407. Responsibilities of municipalities.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14732-01-4
A. 9493 2
1 Municipalities are encouraged to establish programs to collect, redis-
2 tribute, reuse and recycle unwanted books. Municipalities may contract
3 with third party organizations or businesses for the collection, redis-
4 tribution and recycling of unwanted hardcover books. Municipalities
5 shall send all information describing the establishment and implementa-
6 tion of their voluntary programs to recover, redistribute, reuse or
7 recycle hardcover books to the department.
8 Within two years of the effective date of this title, every munici-
9 pality shall establish a program to recover, redistribute, reuse or
10 recycle hardcover books. Municipalities may establish joint programs
11 with other municipalities, or contract with third party organizations or
12 businesses to recover, redistribute, reuse or recycle hardcover books.
13 Municipalities shall send all information describing the establishment
14 and implementation of their programs to recover, redistribute, reuse or
15 recycle hardcover books to the department.
16 Municipalities shall keep records of their hardcover book recovery,
17 reuse, redistribution and recycling programs, including tonnages of
18 books collected, books redistributed for reuse, books recycled and the
19 recycling companies utilized.
20 § 27-3409. Hardcover book recyclers.
21 Every person or entity engaged in the recovery and recycling of hard-
22 cover books shall annually provide documentation to the department of
23 the tonnage of hardcover books received from each municipality with
24 which it contracts, and the persons or entities to which the recycled
25 hardcover books are sent.
26 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
