The first year of the 2007-08 legislative session wrapped up in the early morning hours of September 12, and we can be very proud of the progress we have made in advancing waste reduction and recycling policy. Several priority bills made it out of both houses of the legislature and are now pending before Governor Schwarzenegger. Over the next 30 days our priority will be organizing support for all of the waste prevention and recycling legislation awaiting a Governor's signature, but we'll need your help.

Priority bills that passed the legislature and pending at the Governor's desk include:

• AB 48 (Saldaña) Toxic Electronics Phase Out (Vetoed 10/13/07)

• AB 548 (Levine) Multi-family Recycling (Vetoed 10/14/07)

• AB 1109 (Huffman) Lighting Efficiency and Toxics Reduction Act (Signed 10/12/07)

• SB 966 (Simitian) Pharmaceutical Takeback and Disposal Program (Signed 10/12/07)

• SB 1021 (Padilla) Multi-family Recycling Funding (Signed 10/14/07)

Additionally, several key proposals made their way through most of the legislative process only to be held for consideration in January. They include: SB 1020 (Padilla), which would have established a 75% waste reduction and recycling standard for California; AB 1195 (Torrico), which would have increased incentives and requirements for re-refined motor oil; and a joint proposal by Senator Perata and Assembly Member Hancock to increase plastic recycling and recycling funding through the beverage container recycling program.

Other CAW priority legislation that we will continue to pursue next year include AB 904 (Feuer), pending before the Assembly Floor, which will reduce and recycle plastic packaging waste and marine debris by requiring the use of recyclable fastfood takeout packaging. Additionally, AB 1535 (Huffman), also pending on the Assembly floor, would increase E-Waste recycling by expanding California's successful E-Waste Recycling Law.