Concerning fair treatment of municipal solid waste systems.

 S-2031.1

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5703

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senate Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Holy, Riccelli, Short, Christian, Fortunato, Lovelett, and Nobles)

READ FIRST TIME 02/28/25.

AN ACT Relating to fair treatment of municipal solid waste systems; amending RCW 70A.65.080 ; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds, based on a study published by the department of ecology in March 2024, that the only waste to energy system in the state will emit less greenhouse gases when compared to the alternative of managing, hauling, and disposing of that system's waste to landfills in other communities. The legislature intends to treat all municipal solid waste management systems equally throughout the state under the Washington cap and invest program. This act achieves equal treatment of all communities with municipal solid waste management systems under the Washington cap and invest program by adding a narrow program exemption for the state's only waste to energy municipal solid waste management system.

Sec. 2. RCW 70A.65.080 and 2024 c 352 s 4 are each amended to read as follows: