(a) In this section, "advisory council" has the meaning stated in § 9-2501 of this title. (b) (1) On or before July 30, 2034, and at least once every 10 years thereafter, the Office shall hire an independent consultant to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment to inform the provision of recycling services in the State including implementation of Subtitle 25 of this title. (2) The needs assessment shall include: (i) An analysis of the State's current solid waste streams, including: 1. Solid waste generated in the State by local jurisdiction, type, and material; 2. Disposal methods by material type and amount; and 3. Associated costs and revenues for solid waste disposal programs; (ii) An analysis of the State's current recycling streams, including: 1. Recyclable materials processed by local jurisdiction, type, and amount; 2. Processing methods by material type and amount; 3. Associated costs and revenues for recycling programs, collection, and tipping fees; 4. An estimate of the amount of recyclable materials that are not currently being recycled; and 5. An estimate of the amount of reusable packaging that is not currently being reused; (iii) An evaluation of the current infrastructure and capacity related to, need for, and associated costs of: 1. Recycling access and availability; 2. Collecting and hauling recyclable, reusable, or compostable materials in the State; 3. Processing recyclable or compostable materials in the State; 4. Taking advantage of favorable market conditions or other opportunities for increasing recycling, reuse, or organics recycling in the State; 5. In coordination with local governments, consumer education regarding recycling, organics recycling, reusable packaging, and contamination reduction; 6. Reuse infrastructure; and 7. Organics recycling infrastructure; (iv) An evaluation of commingled recycling processing facility worker conditions, wages, and benefits; (v) An evaluation of opportunities in the recycling and reuse system for women and minority individuals; (vi) An evaluation of local government requirements related to multifamily and commercial recycling services and their implementation; (vii) The sufficiency of recycling and reuse education programs relative to desired equity outcomes; (viii) An evaluation of the economic opportunities in the State's recycling and reuse system, including: 1. State and local revenue that may be considered lost because recyclable materials are not being recycled; 2. Current jobs associated with the solid waste, reuse, and recycling industries; 3. Opportunities to increase employment in the recycling industry by material type; 4. Business opportunities associated with recycling or reusable packaging; 5. Barriers to increasing the use of recyclable materials as feedstock for principal processors and manufacturers and means of eliminating those barriers; and 6. Recommendations for incentives to stimulate job growth and business opportunities in the State's recycling and reusable packaging industries; (ix) Recommendations for improving equity and equitable outcomes for underserved populations in the State's recycling system; (x) An analysis of the costs and benefits of implementing an extended producer responsibility program, including to: 1. Local governments; 2. Waste producers; 3. Residents; and 4. Waste management companies; (xi) An analysis of the potential environmental impact of an extended producer responsibility program, including through: 1. Increased recycling; 2. Resource recovery; 3. Waste reduction; and 4. Reduced environmental damage; and (xii) Recommendations on the best practices to follow from successful extended producer responsibility programs in other states and countries. (c) The Office shall report on the results of each assessment conducted under this section to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. (d) In conducting an assessment required under this section, the independent consultant shall consult with producer responsibility organizations, the producer responsibility advisory council established under § 9-2503 of this title, appropriate local governmental entities, and regional solid waste organizations in the State. (e) The Office shall establish and collect a fee to be paid by producer responsibility organizations to cover the costs associated with conducting: (1) The assessment required under Chapter 465 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2023; and (2) Each subsequent assessment required under this section.
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