San Diego residents and businesses may soon be fined if they are not recycling. City officials are planning to enact two recycling initiatives aimed at increasing the city's recycling rate from 52 percent to 60 percent in three years time and to help alleviate the city's Miramar landfill. One initiative looks at fines of up to $1000 for residents and businesses who fail to recycle and the other targets construction and demolition debris. Mike Lee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

San Diego's proposed recycling requirements are expected to divert some 100,000 tons a year from Miramar Landfill. That would reduce the city's revenues by about $4 million a year, and officials have yet to explain how they would cover that gap and related costs.

The proposed rules would affect most single-family homeowners starting in January.

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CAW is currently sponsoring AB 548 (Levine), which would require managers to provide appropriate recycling opportunities in multi-family dwellings (apartments). Expanding recycling to multi-family dwellings could divert an additional 329,000 tons of recyclable materials. The bill is currently awaiting a concurrence vote on the Assembly Floor.

What You Can Do

• TAKE ACTION and support AB 548 now!
• Read more about the state's recycling measures and statistics.
• Find a place to recycle your unwanted stuff!

The California Integrated Waste Management Board has awarded 1,200 California as part of its annual Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) that rewards businesses that have obtained excellence in waste diversion.

One company to win top honors—Pacific Builders—is profiled by the Eureka Times Standard:

"Out of a total of 842.36 tons of construction waste debris generated from May 2005 to July 2006, Pacific Builders was able to divert 546 tons from the landfill. This gives Pacific Builders an overall diversion rate of 65 percent. By using focused resource management plans, a savings of $156,089 was accomplished in the overall efforts to recycle and reuse."

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According to the CIWMB, the commercial sector accounts for 47% of all waste generated in California.

See all WRAP Winners>>

Summary.
AB 484 prohibits the contractors of the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) from disposing concrete in landfills without submitting a report to state that explains why this material was disposed.

Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 484 was vetoed by the Governor in October 2007 (read veto message). The bill passed the Senate with a 23-12 vote and the Assembly with a 46-28 vote.

Summary.
SB 735 would require the CA Department of Transportation to track the use of recycled materials in its projects. This bill would also require that this information be reported annually, beginning in 2009.

Position and Status.
CAW Supports. SB 735 was vetoed by the Governor (read the veto message). The bill passed the Senate with a 24-15 vote and the Assembly with a 43-28 vote.