Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1812-G is enacted to read:

§1812-G.__Alternatives to the purchase of dioxin-forming

products; evaluation

It is the policy of the State to avoid the purchase of dioxin- forming products whenever technically effective and reasonably affordable alternatives are available.__The State Purchasing Agent, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Executive Department, State Planning Office, shall inventory the State's purchase of supplies and materials composed in whole or in part of dioxin-forming products as defined in Title 38, section 1681.__Based on this assessment, the State Purchasing Agent shall evaluate alternatives to, and establish goals for, the reduction of the purchase of supplies and materials composed in whole or in part of dioxin-forming products.__The State Purchasing Agent shall report by January 15, 2003 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters on the results of this inventory and evaluation and on the State's efforts to purchase alternatives to supplies and materials composed in whole or in part of dioxin-forming products.__The State Purchasing Agent shall include in the report any recommendations to increase or facilitate the purchase of the alternative supplies and materials.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §9324, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 512, §5, is amended to read:

7. Trash. Out-of-door burning of highly combustible trash is prohibited where municipal trash collection service is available and will accept those materials. Out-of-door burning of plastics, including dioxin-forming products as defined in Title 38, section 1681, subsection 2, rubber, styrofoam, metals, food wastes or chemicals is prohibited in all areas of the State.

For purposes of this subsection, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Highly combustible trash" means wooden boxes or other wood material, paper and cardboard.

B. "Municipal trash collection service" means any curbside trash collection service that is operated or contracted for by the municipality or that is required by municipal ordinance.

Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §9324, sub-§8 is enacted to read: