SECTION 328.101. General Guidelines and Requirements

(a) Target recycling percentages. In order to bring about a significant state-wide increase in newsprint recycling, newspaper publishers are encouraged to take whatever measures may be necessary to ensure that their publishing businesses meet or exceed the target recycling percentages set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection. In the event a newspaper publisher chooses to purchase newsprint with less than 25% postconsumer recycled content, the agency will consider legislative intent to be achieved if that publisher meets or exceeds the alternative aggregate recycling content standards set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(1) Newspaper publishers should obtain and utilize newsprint such that the percentage of "recycled newsprint," as defined in §328.100 of this title (relating to Purpose and Definitions), in the overall total amount of newsprint purchased each year is at least:

(A) 10% by the end of calendar year 1993;

(B) 20% by the end of calendar year 1997; and

(C) 30% by the end of calendar year 2000.

(2) In the alternative, newspaper publishers may obtain and utilize newsprint such that the aggregate postconsumer recycled content, by fiber weight, in the overall total amount of newsprint purchased each year is at least:

(A) 2.5% by the end of calendar year 1993;

(B) 12% by the end of calendar year 1997; and

(C) 18% by the end of calendar year 2000.

(b) Certification. Newsprint manufacturers and suppliers shall certify the average percentage, based on annual production, of postconsumer recovered material contained in any newsprint sold and/or delivered to Texas newspaper publishers.

(c) Recordkeeping. Newsprint purchase and delivery records shall be maintained by all newspaper publishers. In addition, mill certification records showing the average percentage of postconsumer recovered material in purchased and/or utilized newsprint should be kept by each publisher. Such records must contain sufficient information to enable the publisher to prepare those reports required under §328.103 of this title (relating to Reports). An official Texas Daily Newspaper Association (TDNA) Newsprint Order Form may be used to maintain and verify required records. Newspaper publishers shall retain required records for three years.

(d) Notice of postconsumer content and labeling.

(1) Newsprint manufacturers or suppliers shall indicate, on invoices provided to newspaper publishers, suppliers, or commercial printers, or through another form of written notice to such consumers, the average postconsumer recycled content of each roll of newsprint which is the subject of such invoice or notice, and the amount of newsprint purchased from such newsprint manufacturer or supplier containing the minimum postconsumer recycled content required to meet the definition of "recycled newsprint" under §328.100 of this title (relating to Purpose and Definitions).

(2) Newsprint which contains less than the minimum percentage of postconsumer recovered material required to qualify it as recycled newsprint may be identified as follows: "this product contains an average of ____% postconsumer recycled fiber, based on annual production" with the percentage indicated.

(e) Comparable price, quality, and availability. Texas newspaper publishers are urged to voluntarily increase utilization of "recycled newsprint" or other newsprint, that has been certified as containing postconsumer recovered material, beyond the target recycling percentages set forth in subsection (a) of this section in those instances where:

(1) availability of such products exist;

(2) the net cost of utilizing such products is comparable to that of utilizing virgin newsprint; and

(3) the quality of such products (considering such factors as brightness, opacity, and cross machine tear strength) is similar to that of virgin newsprint.

Source Note: The provisions of this §328.101 adopted to be effective September 5, 1999, 24 TexReg 6761