2007 Legislation Wrap-Up
The 2007 legislative session is officially behind us, with mixed results. What began as the most ambitious year for waste reduction and recycling policy since 1989, ended on a decidedly sour note, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoing the two most significant waste prevention and recycling bills that made it to his desk.

Governor Vetoes Legislation to Require Multifamily Recycling Opportunities
CAW-sponsored AB 548 (Levine) would have required apartment owners to provide recycling services to their tenants. In his veto message, the Governor cites significant costs as a deterrent in the legislation.

The legislation would have expanded recycling opportunities to the more than 7 million Californians living in apartments and other multifamily dwellings that still lack a basic recycling opportunity where they live.

CAW worked closely with the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), recyclers, local governments and apartment owners in crafting the legislation. The only known opponent was the California Apartment Owners Association.

"Earlier this year the CIWMB identified expanded multifamily recycling as an important 'early action measure' to reduce GHG emissions, as well as increase recycling. AB 548 tracked that recommendation," said CAW Executive Director Mark Murray.

"If Governor Schwarzenegger is unwilling to take the relatively modest step of requiring recycling at apartments, I'm perplexed as to how the Governor will make serious progress toward the State's more ambitious GHG emission reduction goals."

Toxic E-Waste Bill Vetoed
AB 48 (Saldaña) would have prohibited the sale in California of electronic devices that contain certain hazardous materials, including lead and mercury, consistent with the European Union's RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) directive by 2010. In his veto message, the Governor cited unexplained and ostensibly harmful consequences of the bill.

The provisions of AB 48 track a policy that's already been in place for 4 years in California on computer monitors and televisions, and which the Governor expanded earlier in the week by adding lighting products (AB 1109).

AB 48 was in response the California Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC's), ban on the disposal of most consumer electronics due to the presence of toxic heavy metals.

"It's been more than 5 years since DTSC identified consumer electronics as toxic and announced their plan to ban disposal. California continues to dispose of more than 500,000 tons of toxic electronics annually due to lack of awareness and opportunity," said CAW Executive Director Mark Murray.

"I'm afraid that at this point we've exhausted our administrative and legislative remedies in trying to curb the illegal disposal of toxic electronics. For the foreseeable future it will have to be up to consumers and the courts to sort out what electronic products are safe and what products should be prohibited from sale."

Energy Efficiency and Pollution Prevention Bill Signed
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law groundbreaking legislation creating a comprehensive strategy to increase energy efficiency and reduce the amount of hazardous waste in today's lighting.

AB 1109 by Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) will substantially reduce California's energy consumption over the next ten years, while also bringing the state forward in the fight on global warming with the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 6 million tons.

Governor Signs Pharmaceutical Disposal Bill
Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 966 (Simitian), which will allow local governments, retail pharmacies and other organizations, in consultation with various state agencies, to develop programs for the take back and proper disposal of unused or expired pharmaceutical drugs.

Beverage Container Recycling Funding Legislation Signed
SB 1021 by Senator Padilla was signed by the Governor into law. The bill, aimed at increasing recycling opportunities in multifamily dwellings, will use unclaimed bottle bill deposits to help fund multifamily recycling programs.

Other Significant Legislative Actions
-AB 1108 (Ma) – Prohibits the use of specified phthalate chemicals in toys and childcare products designed for children up to 3 years old; prohibits the use of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity as a replacement for banned phthalates. Signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

-AB 888 (Lieu and Laird) - Requires large commercial buildings built after 2013 to meet minimum green building standards adopted by the state or, if no standards are adopted, the LEED Gold standard. LEED is the internationally recognized green building guideline established by the U.S. Green Building Council and already used by the Governor in his green building executive order. Vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

-AB 258 (Krekorian) - Sets up a task force to monitor and regulate the release of preproducution plastic pellets released into the marine environment. Signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Recycling News Updates
Oct 10 - Officials Not Doing Enough to Regulate Toxins in Consumer Products
Oct 10 - Zero Waste Starts in the Supermarket
Oct 8 - PG&E Observes National Energy Awareness Month, Gives Away CFLs
Oct 1 - Easy Access to Recycling Not Uniform in California
Sept 25 - Millbrae Adopts Polystyrene Ban
Sept 21 - Efforts to Recycle Polystyrene Leave Out Problematic Food Packaging

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

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