In an effort to make Florida recycle 75 percent of its solid waste by 2020, a state Senate committee voted Wednesday to require businesses with 25 employees or more to report their recycling rates biennially. 

The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee unanimously passed SB 570, sponsored by Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, to get businesses on board with the state’s recycling goals.    

“We are woefully behind other states,” Constantine said. “And, we need to promote programs that implement 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.'”

After roughly a month in legislative limbo, an attempt to have businesses report their recycling rates was drastically scaled back Wednesday.

Lawmakers on the Senate Community Affairs Committee unanimously voted to approve SB 570, Sen. Lee Constantine’s attempt to make the state recycle 75 percent of its solid waste by 2020.

“I really do think we can be the leader in recycling, and it will create jobs,” said the Altamonte Springs Republican.