UPDATE: SB 171 Amended to Protect Recycling Incentives

The Montana Recycling Association in please to announce that Senate Bill 171 was amended in House Taxation to protect recycling incentives. MRA will continue to monitor SB 171, but is not longer opposing the bill. - MRA

Letter to the Editor by Mark Nelson, President of the Montana Recycling Association

"Recycling incentives important to economy, environment,"

- Published in Montana Standard April 10, 2015

Submitted to Montana Papers April 8, 2015:

Protect Recycling and Recycling Jobs in Montana by Protecting Montana's Recycling Incentives

Recycling helps individuals and communities in Montana create a resource from items that would otherwise be trash.  Recycling also provides jobs.  A 2004 study showed recycling created more than 300 full-time jobs across the state.  Since that time, Montana’s recycling rate has gone from 12% to nearly 17% in 2012.

However, recycling can be difficult in Montana due to the lack of infrastructure to collect and process recyclables, as well as end-uses for recycling in the manufacturing process.  Recognizing these challenges, Montana policy makers established important incentives to help Montana realize the economic and environmental benefits of recycling. 

Unfortunately, Senate Bill 171, now before the House Taxation Committee would strike these important incentives without any review of the fiscal, community, and environmental impact of losing these recycling incentives.  Senate Bill 171 needs to be amended to preserve Montana’s Recycling incentives.

These incentives help Montana businesses invest in recycling collection, recycling processing, and recycling-based manufacturing; bringing economic and environmental benefits to our state.  Please let your legislators know you support policies to encourage recycling in Montana.

Please visit us at www.MontanaRecyclers.org to learn more about this legislation and other issues important to Montana’s recyclers.

Sincerely,

​- Mark​

Mark E Nelson, President

Montana Recycling Association

P.O. Box 1360

Helena, MT 59624

Senate Bill 171 to be Heard this Friday, April 10th; Let Your Representative's Know You Support an Amendment to Protect Montana's Recycling Incentives

Senate Bill 171 will be heard this Friday, April 10th, at 8am in House Taxation. 

Please take a moment to contact your local representative and members of the House Taxation committee (listed below), to let them know you support Montana's Recycling Incentives. 

The Montana Recycling Association position on SB 171, to oppose unless amended, in shown in more detail here.

Thanks!

- MRA

​[Click on Legislators Name for More Details and Contact Information]

House Taxation, 2015 Legislature
Mike Miller  (R) HD 80 HELMVILLE	Chair
Greg Hertz  (R) HD 12 POLSON, MT	Vice Chair
Kathleen Williams  (D) HD 61 BOZEMAN	Vice Chair
Zach Brown  (D) HD 63 BOZEMAN
Rob Cook  (R) HD 18 CONRAD
Geraldine Custer  (R) HD 39 FORSYTH
Mary Ann Dunwell  (D) HD 84  ​Helena​
Kelly Flynn  (R) HD 70 TOWNSEND
Tom Jacobson  (D) HD 21 GREAT FALLS
Steve Lavin  (R) HD 8 KALISPELL
Ed Lieser  (D) HD 5 WHITEFISH
Edith (Edie) McClafferty  (D) HD 73 BUTTE
Albert Olszewski  (R) HD 11 KALISPELL
Lee Randall  (R) HD 37 BROADUS
Alan Redfield  (R) HD 59 LIVINGSTON
Nicholas Schwaderer  (R) HD 14 SUPERIOR
Bridget Smith  (D) HD 31 WOLF POINT
Kerry White  (R) HD 64 BOZEMAN
Nancy Wilson  (D) HD 95 MISSOULA
Daniel Zolnikov  (R) HD 45 BILLINGS