SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1331        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 512

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Edward J. Kennedy

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to mattress recycling.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1331        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 512

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 570 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to mattress recycling.

Resolved, that a special commission is hereby established for the purpose to study the financial and environmental impacts of disposal and end-of-life management of mattresses, including bed foundations and box springs, on municipalities of the commonwealth. The commission shall examine existing mattress management options, such as recycling and material disposal, and make recommendations on policies and programs to increase mattress reuse and recycling, and to mitigate the financial and environmental costs of managing said materials. The commission shall review all aspects of mattress disposal and end-of-life management including, but not limited to, the: (i) availability of local management options, (ii) costs and benefits of existing options to taxpayers and municipalities, (iii) programs and policies in other states that promote proper diversion of mattresses to reduce costs, (iv) opportunities to increase additional community impacts through preferred partnerships with local nonprofit social enterprises and organizations that recycle mattresses, and (v) programs and policies utilized in other states.

The commission shall consist of the commissioner of the department of environmental protection or his designee, who shall serve as commission chair; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 2 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall have experience in integrated materials management and waste management and 1 of whom shall be a representative from a Massachusetts-based mattress recycling social enterprise program; a representative of MassRecycle, Inc.; and a representative of the International Sleep Products Association. The commission shall convene its first meeting not later than June 1, 2023, and shall file a report along with any recommendations for legislation not later than November 30, 2023, with the clerks of the senate and house, the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means, and the chairs of the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture.