The Recycling Advocate - April 28, 2009 - Volume 14, Number 3


 

The Recycling Advocate - April 28, 2009 - Volume 14, Number 3

With the deadline for fiscal bills to get out of their respective policy committees looming, here is an update on some key recycling and waste reduction bills and where they stand.

Key Waste Reduction and Recycling Bills Advance out of Committees.

 

  • SB 55 (Corbett) passed out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on April 20 in a 5 to 2 vote. This CAW sponsored bill would expand California's Container Recycling Law to include more types of containers. Additionally, SB 55 would provide funding to develop local recycling infrastructure, fueling the creation of green recycling jobs. Next: Senate Appropriations.
  • AB 147 (Saldana) is a CAW sponsored bill that would allow the Department of Toxic Substances Control the authority to request documentation from electronic manufacturers that detail the amount of hazardous materials in their products. AB 147 passed out of Assembly Judiciary on April 28 in a 7 to 3 vote. Next: Assembly Appropriations.
  • SB 25 (Padilla) would require the CIWMB to adopt policies to increase statewide waste diversion to 75%. This bill passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in a 5 to 2 vote. Next: Senate Appropriations
  • AB 1173 (Huffman) also sponsored by CAW, would limit payment of ratepayer derived Efficiency Funds for CFL "pre-bates" to entities that can demonstrate distribution of high quality ,low mercury bulbs and provide either direct implementation of a CFL recycling program or commitment of specified financial support for CFL recycling. This bill moved out of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee on April 27. Next: Assembly Appropriations
  • AB 473 (Blumenfield) made it out of the Assembly Natural Resource Committee in a 6 to 3 vote. AB 473 would provide residential recycling to over 7 million Californians residing in multi-family dwellings.  Next: Assembly Committee on Local Government
  • AB 479 (Chesbro) sponsored by CAW, sets a statewide waste diversion goal of 75%, mandates commercial recycling, and provides additional funding for local recycling programs through increased landfill tipping fees.  AB 479 passed out of Assembly Natural Resources in a 5 to 3 vote on April 13. Next: Assembly Appropriations
  • AB 907 (Chesbro) is a CAW sponsored measure that would provide incentives to re-refiners of used oil while promoting re-refining capacity in California. This measure passed out of Assembly Natural Resources on April 27th. Next: Assembly Appropriations.
  • AB 1343 (Huffman) passed out of Assembly Natural Resources on April 27. This bill would ease the environmental and financial burden of post consumer paint upon local governments by requiring paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program for collection, transport and processing.  Post consumer paint proves to be one of the most costly problem materials burdening House Hold Hazardous Waste Programs across California. Next: Assembly Appropriations
  • AB 283 (Chesbro) or the California Product Stewardship Act of 2009, would task the CIWMB to create an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to deal with a wide range of problem materials. Next: Assembly Appropriations.
  • AB 68 (Brownley) & AB 87 (Davis), the plastic bag bills, passed out of ANR on April 13th.  Both pieces of legislation would require consumers pay a $0.25 fee on single-use bags distributed at large grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores. These measures would incentivize consumers towards re-usable bags, thus reducing the impact of plastic bag litter in the environment while reducing the amount going into landfills. Next: Assembly Appropriations
  • AB 1358 (Hill) passed out of Assembly Natural Resources on April 27. This bill would ban expanded polystyrene and other non-recyclable food packaging. Next: Assembly Appropriations
  • AB 1329 (Brownley) passed out of the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxics Committee on April 28. This CAW sponsored bill would phase out the distribution of toxic PVC packaging. Next: Assembly Floor


Status of Bills we oppose.

  • SB 44 (Denham) stalled in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. This measure called for the elimination of the California Integrated Waste Management Board.  Next: None
  • AB 1150 (Gaines) stalled in Assembly Natural Resources. Like SB 44, this measure also called for the elimination of the Integrated Waste Management Board. Next: None
  • AB 222 (Adams) passed out of the Utilities and Commerce committee over opposition from CAW and a host of other environmental groups. AB 222 would alter state law to provide diversion credit for conversion technologies and threaten California's recycling economy. Next Step: Assembly Appropriations.


Stay tuned for further status updates on these and other recycling and waste reduction bills as they move through the legislature.

Recycling News
Apr 23 - OPC to Produce Master Bag Environmental Assessment.
Apr 22 - Santa Clara County Commission Recommends Plastic Bag Ban.
Apr 22 - Rep Markey Re-introduces Bottle Recycling Climate Protection Act.
April 3 - Palo Alto to Vote on Polystyrene Ban.
April 3 - New York Expands Bottle Bill to water bottles.


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