§ 8-6-1102 — Purpose - Construction

(a) As directed by Acts 1989, No. 870, the Arkansas Solid Waste Fact Finding Task Force [expired] has presented its findings and proposals. The task force report identifies serious and chronic deficiencies in how solid waste is managed in this state. The report is accompanied by legislative proposals which reaffirm the state's commitment to regional solid waste management embodied in Acts 1989, No. 870, and aim, through extensive revision of current law, to make regionalization a reality. The report and the task force's legislative proposals demonstrate that the state does not have sufficient understanding or control of the overall solid waste stream to realize its goal of regional solid waste management, much less a responsible recycling and source reduction program. These goals cannot be attained if the waste streams assigned to the respective regional solid waste planning districts continue to change during the crucial planning and development stages. (b) Federal law, 42 U.S.C. § 6941 et seq., has placed the burden of implementing regional solid waste management strategies upon the states. To this end, the General Assembly has embarked upon the difficult task of addressing the complex solid waste needs of the state on a regional basis. After giving due regard to all of the contingencies and exigencies inherent in planning a regional solid waste strategy, and after accommodating existing business expectations based upon waste streams originating from outside the Acts 1989, No. 870, regional solid waste planning districts, the General Assembly hereby enacts the following emergency measure as an essential component of its efforts to reform solid waste management in Arkansas. (c) This subchapter should be given a liberal construction so as to effectuate its remedial intent.

Legislative History

Acts 1991, No. 319, § 2.