(a) The planning, development and operation of recycling programs is a matter of statewide concern.

(b) The opportunity to recycle should be provided to every person in Oregon.

(c) There is a shortage of appropriate sites for landfills in Oregon.

(d) It is in the best interests of the people of Oregon to extend the useful life of solid waste disposal sites by encouraging waste prevention and the recycling and reuse of materials, and by requiring solid waste to undergo volume reduction through recycling and reuse measures to the maximum extent feasible before disposal. Implementation of waste prevention and recycling and reuse measures will not only increase the useful life of solid waste disposal sites, but also decrease the potential public health and safety impacts associated with the operation of disposal sites.

(e) There are limits to Oregon’s natural resources and the capacity of the state’s environment to absorb the impacts of increasing consumption of resources, increasing waste generation and increasing solid waste disposal.

(f) It is in the best interests of the people of Oregon to conserve resources and energy by developing an economy that encourages waste prevention and recycling.

(g) The State of Oregon should make it a priority to support efforts that assist each wasteshed in meeting its recovery goal so the statewide recovery goal may be achieved.

(2) In the interest of the public health, safety and welfare and in order to conserve energy and natural resources, it is the policy of the State of Oregon to establish a comprehensive statewide program for solid waste management which will:

(a) After consideration of technical and economic feasibility, establish priority in methods of managing solid waste in Oregon as follows:

(A) First, to reduce the amount of solid waste generated;

(B) Second, to reuse material for the purpose for which it was originally intended;

(C) Third, to recycle material that cannot be reused;

(D) Fourth, to compost material that cannot be reused or recycled;

(E) Fifth, to recover energy from solid waste that cannot be reused, recycled or composted so long as the energy recovery facility preserves the quality of air, water and land resources; and

(F) Sixth, to dispose of solid waste that cannot be reused, recycled, composted or from which energy cannot be recovered by landfilling or other method approved by the Department of Environmental Quality.

(b) Clearly express the Legislative Assembly’s previous delegation of authority to cities and counties for collection service franchising and regulation and the extension of that authority under the provisions of this section and ORS 459.125 and 459A.005 to 459A.085.

(c) Retain primary responsibility for management of adequate solid waste management programs with cities, counties or metropolitan service districts, reserving to the state those functions necessary to ensure effective programs, cooperation among cities, counties or metropolitan service districts and coordination of solid waste management programs throughout the state.

(d) Promote, encourage and develop markets first for reusable material and then for recyclable material.

(e) Promote research, surveys and demonstration projects to encourage material or energy recovery.

(f) Promote research, surveys and demonstration projects to aid in developing more sanitary, efficient and economical methods of solid waste management.

(g) Provide advisory technical assistance and planning assistance to affected persons, in the planning, development and implementation of solid waste management programs.

(h) Develop, in coordination with federal, state and local agencies and other affected persons, long-range plans including regional approaches to promote reuse, to provide land reclamation in sparsely populated areas, and in urban areas necessary disposal facilities.

(i) Provide for the adoption and enforcement of recycling rates and standards as well as performance standards necessary for safe, economic and proper solid waste management.

(j) Provide authority for counties to establish a coordinated program for solid waste management, to regulate solid waste management and to license or franchise the providing of service in the field of solid waste management.

(k) Encourage utilization of the capabilities and expertise of private industry.

(L) Promote means of preventing or reducing at the source, materials which otherwise would constitute solid waste.

(m) Promote application of material or energy recovery systems which preserve and enhance the quality of air, water and land resources. [1971 c.648 §1; 1975 c.239 §2; 1983 c.729 §15; 1989 c.541 §1; 1991 c.385 §7; 1993 c.560 §3; 1997 c.552 §2; 2001 c.513 §1]