(a) Studies, applied research, investigations, and other purposes accomplished with and technical assistance provided through use of money in the technical assistance fund must comply with:
(1) the state solid waste management plan;
(2) the commission’s municipal solid waste management rules; and
(3) other commission policy requirements.
(b) Technical assistance, applied research, investigations, studies, and other purposes for which funds may be provided may include:
(1) an evaluation of the long-term statewide needs of public agencies in financing municipal solid waste systems and consideration of the nature and extent of financial support that the state should provide for those systems;
(2) an evaluation of state of the art waste reduction systems and waste-to-energy systems that include steam generation and electrical production;
(3) establishment and evaluation of a pilot source separation and recycling project;
(4) feasibility studies of appropriate technology that may be applicable to several local governments for the improvement of solid waste management systems;
(5) cost and economic comparisons of alternative solid waste management systems;
(6) an evaluation of available markets for energy and recovered materials;
(7) an evaluation of the availability of recovered materials and energy resources for new market opportunities; and
(8) a citizen involvement program to educate citizens in solid waste management issues and the improvement of solid waste management practices.

(c) The commission may hire personnel to be paid from the technical assistance fund and may use the technical assistance fund for obtaining consultant services and for entering into interagency agreements with other state agencies, public agencies, or planning regions.