SPONSOR:

Rep. Collins & Sen. Hansen

Reps. Briggs King, Dukes, Keeley, Kenton, Ramone, D. Short; Sens. Ennis, Hocker, Richardson, Townsend, Walsh

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6

CREATING THE DELAWARE ANTI-DUMPING AND ANTI-LITTERING SOLUTIONS TASK FORCE.

WHEREAS, litter and illegal dumping are pervasive problems in our state, impacting roadsides, parks, waterways, open spaces, and private and public properties; and

WHEREAS, there are a copious number of sites where illegal dumping regularly occurs in our state; and

WHEREAS, littering and illegal dumping not only degrade Delaware’s aesthetics, but also negatively affect our environmental protection and economic development efforts; and

WHEREAS, littering and illegal dumping are issues that cut across partisan and geographical lines and touch every representative and senatorial district; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Anti-Dumping and Anti-Littering Task Force was created in the State of Delaware by HCR 40 the 148th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Anti-Dumping and Anti-Littering Task Force concluded its work in October 2016, and presented a report to the 148th Delaware General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the report issued by the task force was a thorough analysis of the scope of the problem, but its work needs to be carried forward into actionable solutions;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 149th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Delaware Anti-Dumping and Anti-Littering Solutions Task Force be created to produce comprehensive solutions for reducing littering and illegal dumping in Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DelDOT) or a designee familiar with the challenges posed by littering and illegal dumping to the agency, to serve as chair of the task force;

(2) The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) or a designee familiar with the agency’s efforts to identify and prosecute illegal dumpers;

(3) The Chief Executive Officer of the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) or designee;

(4) The State Attorney General, or a designee who can provide expertise on existing laws on littering and illegal dumping and the enforcement of these statues;

(5) The Chief Executive Officer of Keep Delaware Beautiful or a designee;

(6) The Delaware State Farm Bureau executive director or designee;

(7) 2 members representing Delaware’s waste-hauling industry, as appointed by the committee chair;

(8) The leaders of each of the General Assembly’s 4 legislative caucuses may, if desired, each appoint 1 task force member; and

(9) The New Castle County executive, Kent County administrator, and Sussex County administrator may each, if desired, appoint a member to serve on the task force.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force may, in the pursuit of its mission to reduce the incidence of littering and illegal dumping, and by the common consent of its membership, add additional members; request the participation of guests; and expand on the specific objectives included in this resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force will consider protocols to regularly clean littering and illegal dumping hotspots throughout Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force will consider methods for promoting, expanding, and increasing the effectiveness of Delaware’s Adopt a Highway program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force shall develop recommendations to minimize litter produced by material escaping from recycling trucks, bins, and receptacles.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall consult with the leaders of Keep Delaware Beautiful and explore ways to help the non-profit organization to successfully establish itself and carry out its mission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall consider how messaging to reduce littering and illegal dumping can be incorporated into public education and promoted via public service announcements and social media campaigns.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force shall consider Delaware’s laws against littering and illegal dumping; how often these statutes have been applied in 2015 and 2016; and how enforcement efforts can be made more effective.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall consider reforming the credits granted to state legislators by DSWA to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of this initiative to better benefit local communities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall consider the funding needed to implement the solutions it recommends and where such funds may be derived.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force may, as it deems appropriate, hold 1 or more public workshops to gather input and solicit ideas from the public.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all meetings of the task force, unless otherwise prohibited by existing state law or policy, shall be open to the public.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all meetings of the task force shall be posted in advance and communicated to the media.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall compile a report containing actionable solutions to the tasks assigned to it in lines 36 through 54 of this resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DelDOT shall coordinate and cooperate in providing the staff and administrative support needed for this task force to carry out its mission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force shall hold its first meeting no later than September 15, 2017.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall report its findings to all members of the General Assembly and Governor John Carney via e-mail no later than April 1, 2018.

SYNOPSIS

Seeking to address the pervasive problems of littering and illegal dumping in Delaware, this concurrent resolution would create the Delaware Anti-Dumping and Anti-Littering Solutions Task Force. The task force would be charged with developing actionable strategies for curtailing littering and illegal dumping in The First State and delivering a report to the General Assembly and the governor as to how these policies could be implemented and financed. The task force would be required to report no later than April 1, 2018.