The substitute version of this bill, which passed in the Senate, requires all municipalities and counties to design and implement their own recycling programs. At first glance it might not sound like a bad idea, but the bill places the rules for these programs in the hands of the state's Environmental Improvment Board -- rules which will be "based on a county's or municipality's fiscal capacity." This language is ambiguous at best, and worst is that it takes away the autonomy of local government and gives more power to state authorities.
The bill would allow for recycling programs throughout the state to apply for financing through a fund generated by MVD taxation. It does not increase taxes, but reserves 50% of the Litter Control and Beautification Fund specifically for the financing of these would-be recycling programs. Albuquerque's recycling program isn't even fiscally sustainable. Taxpayers lose out on this every year. There's no way that the Litter Control Fund could even come close to completely financing all of these recycling programs. County and municipal taxpayers will surely be stuck with the vast majority of expenses if this bill is ever passed in the House, expenses that they haven't asked to be stuck with.
For the sake of whatever local governance is left, I hope the House does not pass this bill next year.