The General Assembly hereby makes the following findings and declares the following policies and purposes with respect to the recycling and reduction of solid waste materials. It is determined that the reduction of solid waste disposal and recovery of usable materials from solid waste are matters of extreme importance in minimizing the environmental impact of solid waste disposal through landfilling. It is in the public interest to develop a comprehensive statewide system of recycling and resource recovery which maximizes the quantity of solid waste materials which can be recovered, reused or converted to beneficial use. The statewide system should utilize existing and new resource recovery facilities such as reclamation projects and waste-to-energy projects while establishing and developing a statewide source separation program through use of recycling centers. In addition to maximizing the recovery and reuse of materials from solid waste through use of large scale projects, it is a state goal to provide an opportunity for source separated recycling to every person in the State. In order to accomplish the goals and objectives of statewide recycling and waste reduction, it is determined that the Authority develop a comprehensive program incorporating long range planning, project development, public education and promotion, information gathering, and marketing. It is further determined that the Authority, in developing a statewide comprehensive recycling and waste reduction program, consider measures to remove from the solid waste stream through source separation materials harmful to the environment which cannot be readily or effectively recycled so that such materials can be separately disposed in an authorized manner. These findings, policies and purposes are declared to be in the public interest and these provisions are considered necessary and for the public benefit as a matter of legislative determination, and liberal interpretation in favor of accomplishing the stated goals and objectives shall be provided.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1; 

The following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subchapter:

(1) “Organic yard waste” means plant material resulting from lawn maintenance and other horticultural gardening and landscaping activities and includes grass, leaves, prunings, brush, shrubs, garden material, Christmas trees and tree limbs up to 4 inches in diameter.

(2) “Recyclable material” means any material or group of materials that can be collected and sold or used for beneficial purposes or separated from the waste stream and disposed separately in an authorized manner to reduce environmental impacts.

(3) “Recycling” means the process by which solid waste and other discarded materials are transformed into usable materials or disposed separately in an authorized manner to reduce adverse environmental impacts.

(4) “Recycling center” means any solid waste management facility designed and operated by or on behalf of the Authority for the purpose of receiving recyclable materials. The construction and operation of recycling centers shall not require any municipal or state agency approval and no permit or license fee or any other form of assessment shall be made with respect to the construction and operation of recycling centers.

(5) “Source separation” or “source separated” means the process by which recyclable materials are segregated and kept apart from the waste stream by the generator thereof for the purpose of collection, disposition, recycling or resources recovery.

(6) “Waste reduction” means the efforts exercised by generators of useless discarded materials to avoid or minimize usage of such materials.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  2; 

The Authority shall, pursuant to the provisions of § 6403(j) of this title, incorporate into the statewide solid waste management plan, to the extent deemed necessary, provisions for:

(1) The long term planning of a coordinated program of source separation of recyclable materials and utilization of large scale resources recovery projects;

(2) The establishment of recycling centers to receive and handle source separated recyclable materials;

(3) The development of a marketing program for the state, national or international sale of recovered materials;

(4) The development of an informational program and establishment of specifications and requirements for delivery of source separated recyclable materials to recycling centers to assure marketability of recovered materials;

(5) The development of a program for cooperation with the private sector to further the purposes and objectives of source separated recycling and waste reduction;

(6) The development of a program of coordination and cooperation with public interest groups and municipalities to further statewide recycling and waste reduction;

(7) The development of a program of public education and promotion for statewide recycling and waste reduction;

(8) The development of a program to source separate materials from the solid waste stream which are harmful to the environment including but not limited to used oil and filters, batteries, household hazardous wastes, electronic wastes, etc., as long as economically sustainable in the judgment of the Authority for purposes of separate authorized disposal;

(9) The development of a system of registration and information gathering regarding the nature and extent of recycling and waste reduction undertaken throughout the State;

(10) The development of incentive programs to encourage local and statewide recycling and waste reduction;

(11) The implementation of a source-separated recycling system that balances the need for drop-off recycling centers with public and private sector implementation and expansion of curbside recycling programs except where a municipal government implements curbside recycling within its jurisdiction, the Authority may, after consultation with the local municipality, remove the drop off sites located within the same jurisdiction with the goal of maintaining at least one existing drop-off recycling center in each municipality until January 1, 2014; and

(12) Providing at no cost to those persons required to provide curbside recycling services pursuant to § 6053 of this title the Authority’s unneeded wheeled recycling carts on the basis determined by the Authority for the purpose of minimizing the costs associated with the implementation of universal recycling when the Authority ceases providing curbside recycling services in accordance with § 6053(1) of this title.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  3; 

(a) The Authority shall consider, as part of its source separated recycling and waste reduction program, recovery and use of the following materials:

(1) Newsprint.

(2) Computer paper.

(3) White paper.

(4) Corrugated and other cardboard.

(5) Plastics.

(6) Ferrous metals.

(7) Nonferrous metals.

(8) White goods.

(9) Organic yard waste.

(10) Used motor oil.

(11) Asphalt.

(12) Batteries.

(13) Household paint, solvent, pesticide and insecticide containers.

(b) The Authority may adopt regulations describing recyclable materials and adding other materials to the list of recyclable materials.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1; 

Implementation of efficient and cost-effective recycling programs will require that Delaware have access to facilities capable of processing source separated recyclables. Where the private sector has developed extensive recyclables processing capability and where unique programs that provide incentives to the general public to recycle that are not available to Delaware residents, the Department and the Authority shall encourage and work with the private sector to establish private facilities for recyclables and recycling incentive programs in Delaware. The Authority shall accept recyclables from municipalities and nonmunicipal persons at no cost under such contractual terms and conditions as mutually agreed. Additional materials may be accepted at the source separated recycling center subject to the approval of the Authority. The Authority shall receive recyclable materials for transfer to the processing facility at locations designated by the Authority. It shall be the responsibility of the Authority to ensure that processing and/or transfer facilities for managing source separated collected recyclables are in operation in each County. It shall also be the responsibility of the Authority to transport or arrange for the transport of source separated recyclables from the Authority’s transfer stations or landfills to a processing facility.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  4; 

The Authority, in cooperation and consultation with the Department, shall initiate and conduct public outreach and education programs on the cessation of its curbside recycling program and modification to its drop off and organic yard waste programs, as well as continuing education on the purposes and value of source separated recycling and resource recovery. The intent of these educational programs shall be to maximize the diversion and recovery of recyclable materials and organic yard waste, whether it was generated by the commercial or residential sector. Such program may be conducted in conjunction with similar efforts of private industry, municipalities, public interest groups, the Department and the Recycling Public Advisory Council. The program may include the use of public advertising.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  5; 

Any person engaged in recycling or resources recovery of source separated solid waste generated in the State shall file with the Authority an annual registration statement containing such information as specified in regulations adopted by the Authority. No fee shall be charged as part of the requirement for filing a registration statement.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1; 

Except as specifically provided otherwise for the operation of recycling centers under § 6454 of this title, the costs of implementing programs related to recycling and waste reduction may be funded to the fullest extent authorized for other Authority activities under the provisions of this subchapter.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1; 

The Authority shall be entitled to obtain, develop, create and promote state, national and international markets for usable materials recovered from recycling and resources recovery activities. The Authority shall seek to obtain the best available pricing for recovered materials, with due consideration to other pertinent factors, under short or long term arrangements as deemed appropriate by the Authority. The Authority shall be entitled to offer incentives to develop markets for recovered materials.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1; 

The Authority’s annual report submitted under § 6416 of this title shall set forth its operations and transactions involving recycling and waste reduction, and shall include information pertaining to the advice, assistance, and cooperative efforts extended by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to the Authority regarding the recycling and waste reduction program. The Authority shall also include in the independent audit of its fiscal affairs those matters related to its activities involving recycling and waste reduction.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1; 

In addition to the requirements of § 6429 of this title, the Authority is directed to undertake a feasibility analysis of establishing separate material and energy recovery facilities to Kent County and Sussex County independently. Such analysis shall include consideration of the availability of solid waste material, the market for recovered materials and energy, the effect of other recycling and waste reduction measures, general project economics and environmental impacts. The Authority shall not be entitled to proceed with a material and energy recovery facility under the provisions of § 6429 of this title until such time that the feasibility study required hereunder is filed with the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Such feasibility analysis shall be completed and filed no later than January 15, 1991.

67 Del. Laws, c. 432, §  1;