CAW Sponsored Legislation Moves out of the Assembly and into the Senate
AB 1109 by Assembly Member Jared Huffman passed the Assembly on a 44-23 vote. The bill would direct the CA Energy Commission to develop energy efficiency standards, use more efficient lighting technologies, reduce hazardous waste in lighting and increase recycling opportunities.

AB 48 (Saldaña) to phase out the use of specified hazardous materials in consumer electronics passed the Assembly Floor with a 43-35 vote. The bill is consistent with European Union's ROHs Directive, which requires manufacturers to phase out of the use of specified toxic materials in 'covered electronic devices' (CED's), effective January 1, 2010.

Plastic and Marine Debris Bill Stalls in Assembly
AB 904 (Feuer), which aims to increase the diversion of single-use takeout food packaging, could not achieve the necessary level of support for an Assembly Floor vote last week, and instead will be become a two-year bill. Recently, the City of San Francisco was the latest municipality to start enforcing a ban on foamed polystyrene, as well as require that food packaging be made from recyclable or compostable materials.

Draft Recommendations of the Market Advisory Committee
On Friday June 1, the AB32 Market Advisory Committee released a draft report outlining a proposed cap-and-trade system under AB 32. The report recommended that methane emissions from landfills be excluded from complying with a cap, while still allowing landfill operators to obtain carbon credits for the energy they produce. This would result in an increased financial incentive for landfilling organic materials and the under-regulation of the largest anthropogenic source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Read More

Changes to CAW's Climate Change Webpage
CAW has updated its greenhouse gas page to include several resources for statewide climate change advocacy. We have added letters that CAW has written, contact information for climate change staff, and a list of frequently used documents. We will update these new pages routinely, and we will be adding information on the greenhouse gas benefits of composting and recycling.

Recycling News Updates
Jun 8 - Seattle to Consider Bag Ban, Foamed PS Ban
Jun 7 - Oregon Governor Signs E-waste Bill
Jun 5 - European Lighting Manufacturers Want to Phase Out Incandescents
Jun 1 - SF Polystyrene Ban Goes into Effect

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

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

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