The Honorable Jerry Brown
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 558-3177

RE: AB 818 (Blumenfield) Renter's Right to Recycle -- Support

Dear Governor Brown,

I am writing in support of Assembly Bill 818, which will increase California's recycling rate by expanding recycling opportunities at multifamily dwellings.

While California overall is diverting more than 58 percent of generated waste, it's estimated that just 15% of waste generated at multi-family dwelling is currently diverted. While just 19.1% of Californians live in multi-family dwellings, these housing units account for 26 percent of the residential waste stream. AB 818 is aimed at increasing recycling in California by closing the curbside recycling gap for multifamily dwellings.

AB 818 will require that an owners of multifamily dwellings to provide appropriate recycling services, while allowing exceptions when there is inadequate space or recycling service is unavailable or unaffordable.

A 2004 waste stream analysis by the California Integrated Waste Management Board found that 26.4% percent of the multi-family waste stream is recyclable and that more than 894,687 tons of recyclable materials are currently being landfilled by multi-dwelling residents.

While nearly 70 percent of Californians living in single family homes have access to curbside recycling, no more than 40 percent of those living in multi-family dwellings have access to a residential recycling opportunity, and many of those are unaware of it.

Expanding curbside recycling to multifamily dwellings could divert an additional 329,000 tons of recyclable materials, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly one million tons and creating green jobs.

All Californian's deserve the opportunity to recycle, regardless of whether they live in a single family home or a multifamily dwelling.

Sincerely,

CC:
Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield

(Please FAX a copy of your signed letter to Californians Against Waste (916) 443-3912 for our records.)