(a)  The purpose of this chapter is to establish programs to aid in the monitoring, tracking, reuse, recycling, and proper disposal of hard-to-dispose materials and to respond to clean-up activities associated with hard-to-dispose material by delegating to the department of environmental management the authority to:

(1)  Conduct a permanent and continuous program to control and remove hard-to-dispose materials generated within the state to the maximum practical extent possible;

(2)  Recover and recycle waste materials related to hard-to-dispose material;

(3)  Encourage waste reduction, recovery, and private recycling;

(4)  Increase public awareness of the need for recycling; and

(5)  To aid in the development of private and public sector facilities and programs for the monitoring, tracking, recycling, reuse, reduction, and proper disposal of hard-to-dispose material.

(b)  It is further the intent and purpose of this chapter to create jobs for employment in hard-to-dispose material cleanup and related activities and to encourage small, private recycling centers. This program shall include the compatible goal of recovery of recyclable material to conserve energy and natural resources wherever practicable. Every department of state government and all local governmental units and agencies of this state shall cooperate with the department of environmental management in the administration and enforcement of this chapter. The intent of this chapter is to add to and to coordinate existing recycling hard-to-dispose material control and removal efforts, and to aid private and public efforts in the proper disposal, recycling, reuse, and reduction of hard-to-dispose material and not terminate or supplant those efforts.