Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports
if they are used for other purposes.
Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).
Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and
attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Sanchez
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/18/08
HB
SHORT TITLE “Expand State Capital Recycling"
SJM 20
ANALYST Cox
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$0.1
Recurring
General fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Joint Memorial 20 reminds the Agencies and employees of the New Mexico government
of the importance of recycling, whenever possible. This Joint Memorial reminds that the Solid
Waste Act was passed in 1990. This Joint Memorial encourages all state employees to recycle
paper products, and increase their recycling efforts. It asks for additional recycling bins in
convenient locations. It reminds that many tons of recyclable aluminum, plastic and other
products are produced yearly. This Joint Memorial requests that more recycling stations be in
place by January of 2009. This Joint Resolution requests that all State Agencies send recycling
waste plans and worksheets to the Environment Department- Solid Waste Bureau by January
2009. The Joint Memorial further requests that the Public Education system work to improve
school recycling education. All Agencies of the New Mexico state government are to be notified.
Since this is a Joint Memorial, it requests no funding
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
There are fiscal implications relating to the purchasing of recycling bins, personnel to implement
more recycling efforts, and well as manpower to prepare recycling reports for the Environment
Department.
pg_0002
Senate Joint Memorial 20 – Page
2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Senate Joint Memorial 20 states the following:
•
The legislature passed the Solid Waste Act in 1990 that requires State government to recycle.
•
The Solid Waste Act requires government agencies and the legislature to send recycling plans to the
solid waste bureau of the department of environment.
•
State capitol employees and legislators have been recycling paper, cardboard boxes and computers
and they are starting to recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles.
•
By increasing its recycling, the legislature can set an example for all New Mexicans.
•
There should be additional recycling bins located in convenient locations in the state capitol and other
government buildings so that recycling can be easy for everyone.
•
Many people, including friends, students, have big dreams about creating jobs that help the
environment, and recycling industries create new jobs.
•
New Mexico needs more recycling plants so that communities can have recycling programs.
•
Producing an aluminum can from recycled material saves up to ninety-five percent of the energy
needed to produce a can from raw material, thereby reducing the production of greenhouse gases.
•
The United States uses more than ninety million tons of paper and paperboard a year and five hundred
thousand trees are cut down to make Sunday newspapers.
•
Recycling paper and cardboard saves trees for wildlife habitat.
•
The average New Mexican generates five pounds of trash per day.
•
Recycling saves landfill space and reduces methane gas emissions.
•
Plastics and metal trash can cause suffocation, block digestive tracts or cut the mouths of wild
creatures who attempt to ingest them.
•
Plastic trash can harm wildlife by trapping small animals, entangling the feet of large animals and
wrapping around the beaks and necks of birds.
•
Recycling makes a cleaner world for people, future generations and wildlife.
•
Last year, the United States recycling rate was thirty-two percent, but New Mexicans recycled only
ten percent of recyclable materials, which does not send a good message about New Mexico to other
people.
•
The legislature recognizes that friends and students are working to create model recycling programs
at their own schools and for educating others about the importance of recycling.
•
The legislature supports recycling in schools and encourages school districts to develop recycling
programs in all schools, including placement of recycling bins and pick-up services on school
campuses.
•
The legislature encourages communities to set up recycling programs, including curbside recycling.
•
The Governor has declared New Mexico to be a "green state".
•
All New Mexicans should be able to recycle easily.
This Joint Memorial requests the following:
•
Recycling by the legislature's members and employees, state and local governments, schools,
communities and the public and the development of recycling plants and jobs in New Mexico
should be supported.
pg_0003
Senate Joint Memorial 20 – Page
3
•
The legislature increase funding to the legislative building services budget to purchase additional
recycling bins for paper, aluminum, glass and plastic for the use of the public, employees and
legislators.
•
Additional recycling services for the state capitol shall be in place no later than January 2009.
•
The legislature request all state agencies to send state agency waste reduction and recycling plan
worksheets to the solid waste bureau of the department of environment by January 2009.
•
The legislature is to request the public education department to work with schools to improve
recycling programs in schools.
•
Copies of this memorial shall be transmitted to the Legislative Council Service, the House and
Senate chief clerks, the office of the Governor, the General Services Department, the Public
Education Department and the Department of environment.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
What are the costs of recycle bins. How many more recycle bins are necessary. Will there be
additional manpower and/or personnel required at ED to implement this Joint Resolution.
PRC/mt