§ 6111. Protection of Recycling Fund.

(a) Market development funding.--The Department of Environmental Protection, on an annual basis, shall provide sufficient moneys for market development from the Recycling Fund to promote the long-term sustainability of recycling and to promote the continued growth of the recycling rate. For purposes of this subsection, "market development" shall mean a set of government policies and programs that promote the removal of marketplace barriers to recycling and that promote a productive end use for recyclables collected from residents and businesses.

(b) Review of expenditures.--Prior to submitting its annual Recycling Fund spending plan to the General Assembly, the Department of Environmental Protection shall submit details of its proposed expenditures under the act of July 28, 1988 (P.L.556, No.101), known as the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, including additional expenditures for market development, for review and comment to the Recycling Fund Advisory Committee. At the same time, the department shall submit details of its actual expenditures under the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act for the prior fiscal year, including actual expenditures for market development, for review and comment to the committee. The Department of Environmental Protection shall provide aggregate information on the program, including the total amount of funding applied for, the total amount of funding provided, the percentage of applications approved and the percentage of applications fully funded. The information on actual expenditures provided to the committee shall include a complete list of recipients funded by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to sections 901 and 902 of the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act in the prior fiscal year. The list shall include:

(1) The name of the recipient.

(2) The amount of funding requested.

(3) The amount of funding provided by the Department of Environmental Protection.

(c) Minimum level of funding.--For a period of five years from the effective date of this chapter, moneys expended for programs authorized in the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act shall not fall below levels expended in fiscal year 1999-2000.

(d) Information to applicant.--When the Department of Environmental Protection denies an application for a grant or approves an application for less than the amount requested by the applicant, the department shall provide the applicant with a written statement indicating the reason for the denial or reduction in funding amount.