Hot Issues We're Working On

Plastic Bag Pollution

It may seem like a trivial thing, but those "free" plastic bags we get at the grocers, department stores and restaurants are actually contributing to a world wide pandemic of plastics waste. Only 1-4% of the 19 billion plastic grocery and merchandise bags used annually in the State of California are recycled. That means that nearly 600 bags per second are discarded in California--destined either for the landfill or our marine environment. Learn more about what you can do to help stop one of the most pressing litter threats our ecosystems face.

Update: Most Comprehensive Bag Reduction Law in World Nears Assembly Vote>>

California's E-Waste Disposal Crisis

California continues to lead the nation in electronic waste policy as the only state that has successfully curbed both the illegal disposal and export of the largest category toxic electronics, which includes TVs, computer monitors, and laptops through CA's SB 20. It's estimated that half will either be reused or recycled in California today. In addition, the California Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) has recognized a wide array of consumer electronic products as hazardous, and, effective February 2006, they are prohibited from disposal in household trash, affecting thousands of consumer electronic devices.

Climate Change and Recycling

Greenhouse Gas: Meaningful Emission Reduction through Waste Prevention and Recycling

To help prevent the public health and environmental threats posed by Global Warming, California has committed to an aggressive series of green house gas (GHG) emission reduction goals. Every sector of the state will be called upon to reduce their GHG emissions, including the waste management sector.

Track what the waste sector is working on to reduce GHG emissions in our Climate Change Blog.

Plastic Litter and Waste Reduction Campaign

Dealing with our plastic deluge is one of the most serious environmental hazards humanity will face this century. Our ocean--source of most of the globe's oxygen and the integral component of our ecosystem--is under threat from plastic waste. In some of the most polluted areas of the Pacific, plastic already outweighs plankton by a factor of six! The vast majority of this ocean pollution--up to 90% of it--comes from litter in urban runoff.

Other Issues We're Working On

	Plastic Bottles and California's Bottle and Can Law: Updating California's Bottle and Can Recycling Law to Include all Bottles
	Lighting Source Pollution Reduction: Decreasing pollution, increasing recycling oppurtunities, and saving consumers money.
	Cell Phone and Battery Recycling: Two Down, 500,000 toxic tons to go
	Recycling at Home for Everyone: Bringing the Opportunity to Recycle to Everyone
	Fast Food and Waste: Currently the greatest source of urban litter, fast food restaurants need to change their ways.
	The California Bottle Bill: Next Steps for Increasing Beverage Container Recycling
	Zeroing in on Zero Waste
	Extended Producer Responsibility: A Legislative Model
	Used Motor Oil Recycling
	Dairy Waste: Carrots and Sticks to Reduce Air and Water Pollution from Dairies
	Dirty Butts: Combating Cigarette Litter and Pollution
	Food Waste Composting
	End of Life Vehicles: Recycling Beyond Motor Oil
	Conversion Technologies: What is it and Why Should You Care
	Alternative Daily Cover
	Pharmaceutical Pollution: What's in our Waters?
	Getting Medical Sharps Out of Our Landfills