P.O. Box 20444 Indianapolis, IN 46220-0444 Not-For-Profit Corporation Phone & Fax: 317-283-6226 e-mail address: [email protected] March/April 1998 Newsletter Co-Editors: Diane Mellinger, Jeff Myers, and Rudy Osenbaugh

In addition to the booklet, numerous one page fact sheets will also be available. The Guide is planned to be released in conjunction with the Coalition's Annual Conference on April 28 and 29, 1998. Contact Julie Rhodes for details at 232-8944.

Thanks to Julie Rhodes, Melinda Antell, Terry Duffy, Rosemary Vandivier, Cindy Daily, Robert Gedert, and Janet Fox Neltner for their assistance on the updated guide.

Still avoiding the Internet? Another good reason to get connected is virtual tracking of the Indiana General Assembly via the Access Indiana website. Every new bill in the Senate or House can be followed from introduction through committee assignments, readings and amendments, to passage or failure. Just log on at www.ai.org/legislative.

On the bill information menu click Introduced Bills then search on any keywords to find every bill which mentions keyword; e.g.,..."solid waste"(34 bills this session) or "recycling" (4). You'll get bill numbers, authors, the actual bill text, fiscal impact statements, links to find committee members and bill assignments, and links to check schedule listings when bills will be heard (posted two/three days ahead, but late additions do occur just hours before meetings.)

Every bill has an "Actions List" outlining each step in the process with dates and results. Most actions are updated hourly. Caveat: Not all known actions receive a posting! For example, on January 15th, SB191 (Solid Waste District Financing) was discussed at the Local Government Finance Comm. for more than a hour with numerous testimonies. The bill obviously had problems and no vote was taken. This "action" was never listed on the website although the testimony led to amendments in this bill, which was later defeated. There are several other search and listing features to track all bills introduced (905 this session) or list summaries of approved bills and yea/nay vote counts. I don't think "who voted how" is in the web yet. When a bill passes the Senate or House you can track who will be the sponsor in the other chamber. Print-out any introduced, amended or approved version of a bill, or get fiscal impact statements on any bill by linking to Legislative Services.

Bills can also be tracked by author if your interest is in a specific politician. Most representatives have home pages cross-linked with maps showing districts for Senators and Representatives and linked for information, biographies, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. You can e-mail any state representative by using their "R" or "S" district number then @ai.org.

Diane Mellinger of Waste Alternatives, Inc., discussed the listing of electronic discards through the Indiana Materials Exchange program.

There is also a feature on the Access Indiana home page called BillWatch with cash money icons. I don't know what it does since you only access through a paid account with a password. But, if it lets you into a bill to make your own amendments, I'd like to find out what it costs. Another time-saver is the Indiana Code site where you can easily reference any existing law or statute at www.ai.org/legislative/ic. It can be searched by code section numbers or keyword. On-line code is always up to date and sure beats file drawers or shelves full of codebooks.

I'm not so sure these sites will qualify as "favorites" but you'll want to bookmark them for frequent reference, especially during general assembly sessions.

These founders sought a 501(c)3 corporation as an "organizational umbrella" and arranged to establish SIRI as a "very autonomous sub-committee" under the Indiana Recycling Coalition, Inc.

The original intent of SIRI was to offset the perceived inefficiency of the "single county" Solid Waste Districts in southern Indiana and to cause various entities to work together on the common goal of improving recycling.

The SIRI experience has been successful. SIRI created an effective network of partners sharing, learning, working and commiserating together. The SIRI/IRC relationship has facilitated the application for and administration of grants funds used to support numerous SIRI projects. Conferences on plastics and paper recycling, data studies on recyclable materials in the SIRI region, a magazine campaign, and a series of economic development retreats are a few examples of SIRI projects that have helped orient the efforts of solid waste districts and spawned partnerships with private sector businesses. SIRI also inspired a northern Indiana counterpart, NIRI. Many SIRI members also partner in the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Task Force.

SIRI is now in the midst of an economic study/marketing effort project that has brought the group to a crossroads. These latest projects have caused SIRI to re-examine its mission, affiliations and overall operations. A planning session on the future of SIRI was held on January 27 at the Monroe County District. Recommendations of that meeting were brought before the membership at the March 11th SIRI meeting at the Lawrence County District. Important decisions are now being made. SIRI invites you to take part and join the group that meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov). IRC and NIRI members are always welcome.

Special Thanks to Jim Daniels, Recycling Coordinator, Vanderburgh County Solid Waste Management District, for submitting this SIRI update.