(a) There is hereby established a competitive Recycling Grants and Low Interest Loan Program (the “Program”) to assist persons engaged in the business of collecting, transporting, processing, or marketing recyclable materials with the implementation of:

(1) Source-separated recyclables collection and processing programs with emphasis on start-up costs for residential single-stream recyclables collection; and

(2) Start-up costs for initiatives which result in the recycling of solid waste materials which would otherwise be land disposed, with emphasis on commercial waste.

The Program shall be administered by the Department, and moneys from the Program shall be paid based on approved grant and loan moneys. The Department shall be entitled to disburse grant and loan monies for the documented costs of implementing the collection or processing of recyclable materials. The Department shall be entitled to adopt guidelines and procedures for administering the Program and determining eligibility for receipt of funding pursuant to § 6054 of this title. Such procedures shall include provisions for repayment of loans to the Department and may include a rebate program for costs based on, including but not limited to, a prorated share of household customers in a recycling program that may have been in existence prior to creation of this law. The Department shall solicit the commentary of the grant eligible stakeholders during development of the grant guidelines and procedures. The Program shall be funded by monies made available under the provisions of § 6054 of this title.

(b) The Recycling Public Advisory Council, after the receipt of comments by grant and loan eligible stakeholders, shall make recommendations annually to the Department regarding the programmatic priorities for awarding Program funds under this subchapter. The Recycling Public Advisory Council shall provide recommendations regarding the categories and priorities for grants and loans that reflect an informed and representative view of the most urgent and important areas where grant funding will provide the most benefit to the State balancing current needs with those of future generations.

(c) The Department shall review all grant and loan applications and award grants and loans taking into consideration the Recycling Public Advisory Council recommendations. In those cases where the Department’s funding decisions differ significantly from the Recycling Public Advisory Council recommendations, the Department shall report to the Recycling Public Advisory Council the justification for such differences.

(d) Any person providing solid waste collection services that is a recipient of a grant or low interest loan from the Delaware Recycling Fund shall not, as a result of implementation of universal recycling, increase rates charged for solid waste collection between such time as they make application for the grant until March 15, 2013.

77 Del. Laws, c. 275, § ?1;