April 9, 2007 - Volume 12, Number 5

In this issue: Takeout Food Packaging - Expanding E-Waste Law - CAW Bill Pass First Committee - AB 548 to be heard again - Plastic Bag Ban Poll - Recycling News

TAKE ACTION on CAW Sponsored Legislation

Fast Food Packaging Reduction & Recycling bill set for Hearing Monday- Support letters needed

AB 904 (Feuer), which would reduce fast food packaging litter and waste will be heard in Assembly Natural Resources Committee Monday, April 16. Marine debris is a growing problem for California's $43 billion ocean-dependent economy and a drag on local governments, which have spent hundreds of millions of dollars cleaning it up. Marine debris is a growing environmental hazard that has already killed millions of marine animals. This is a problem that needs to be solved in our cities: takeout food packaging is the second greatest component of litter behind tobacco products and 80% of marine debris is land-sourced, with the majority coming from litter in the form of urban runoff. AB 904 aims to reduce the amount of litter entering our oceans by requiring a switch in takeout food packaging to recyclable/compostable materials.

Letters are needed now!

 

Computer Recycling bill set for Hearing Monday - Support letters needed

AB 1535 (Huffman), which would expand the e-waste recycling law to include personal computers, will be heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee Monday, April 16. Under current law, the cost of collecting and recycling video display devices is covered by a front-end recycling fee. That program has increased the recycling of these devices four-fold in just two years. AB 1535 will extend this successful law to include all personal computers.

TAKE Action and send in a letter of support from your organization by this Wednesday, April 11 to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

 

Bill to Increase Energy Efficiency Passes First Committee

AB 1109 (Huffman), which would increase energy efficiency of lighting products, while reducing and recycling major sources of toxics and pollution associated with today's lighting technology passed out of the Asm. Utilities and Commerce Committee on an 9-3 vote. The bill now heads to the Committee on Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials.

 

Multi-Family Recycling Bill Supported in Natural Resources Committee

AB 548 (Levine) was heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, Monday, April 9. The bill was supported by all the Demcrocrats, but the committee was short two members and must be heard again next Monday, April 16 'for vote only' before being referred to the Committee on Local Government. The bill would require owners of multi-family dwellings to provide appropriate recycling services for the dwelling in accordance with the local jurisdiction's recycling plan. The bill was also amended to define a "multi-family dwelling" as "a residential facility that consists of five or more living units."

AB 548 is suppored by environmental groups and local governments.

 

Plastic Bag Bans and You

San Francisco's recent passing of its ban on plastic bags in certain large retail outlets has garnered international media attention. City officials across California and the nation have begun openly considering whether such a ban would be right for their communities. The 19 billion plastic bags Californians use annually are a principle component of marine debris due to their light weight and their persistence for hundreds, even thousands of years in the environment. What do you think about plastic bags? VOTE! Poll: Would you support a plastic bag ban in your community?

 

Recycling News Updates

Apr 6 - San Diego Considers Mandatory Recycling Ordinance

Apr 3 - U.C. Adopts Green Electronic Purchasing Guidelines

Mar 31 - Napa Residents Grumble for Multi-Family Recycling

Mar 30 - Developing Countries Piled Up in E-waste

Mar 27 - SF Approves Plastic Bag Ban

 

Green Jobs Update: Click Here to find out about environmental jobs.

Please Help Support Californians Against Waste

The Recycling Advocate is published at least twice monthly during the legislative session by the environmental group Californians Against Waste.

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