2009-10 Legislation
AB 7 (Evans) - Bottle Bill Budget Fix - Support
Summary: AB 7 will immediately restore roughly $15 million per month in core recycling funding under California's successful Bottle Bill. Funding was cut last July forcing the closure of hundreds of centers and the loss of several hundred 'green jobs'. AB 7 will immediately restore funding and prevent millions in further cuts to recyclers, local governments, conservation corps and other core components of California's successful Bottle Bill. Status: Signed on March 8, AB 7 is an urgency measure and will take effect immediately. AB 7 was in the eighth extraordinary session of the legislature (AB"X8" 7). Previously, AB 7 passed off the Assembly Floor Feb 25 with a 63-0 vote, passed out of Assembly Budget Committee on Feb 24 with a 24-0 vote, failed an Assembly floor vote February 22 48-1, passed off the Senate Floor February 18 with a 30-6 vote and was introduced February 12.
AB 68 (Brownley) - Offsetting the Costs of Single-Use Bag Litter - Support
Summary: Requires that consumers pay a $0.25 fee for single-use bags distributed at large grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Asm NR April 13 with a 6-3 vote.
AB 87 (Davis) - Offsetting the Costs of Single-Use Bag Litter - Support
Summary: Requires that consumers pay a $0.25 fee for single-use bags distributed at large grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Asm NR April 13 with a 6-3 vote.
AB 147 (Saldaña) - Consumer Electronics Toxics Reporting Requirement - Sponsor
Summary: Authorizes DTSC to request documentation from electronics manufacturers about the amount of hazardous materials contained in the consumer electronics they offer for sale in the State. Status: AB 147 has passed both houses of the legislature but was vetoed by the Governor.
AB 222 (Adams) Bio-Refineries / Conversion Technologies - Neutral
Summary: AB 222 (Adams) was amended on July 15th to no longer give diversion and RPS credit to waste-to-energy. technologies. Previous version of the bill would have allowed controversial and environmentally-unproven waste-to-energy technologies to count as “recycling” under the state’s landmark recycling law (even though they destroy resources) and to count as “renewable” under the state’s renewable energy law (even though they generate electricity from fossil sources and recyclable materials). The bill would have also eliminate existing environmental protections in statute that prohibit a solid waste conversion facility from emitting air and water pollution. Status: CAW is neutral on the bill as amended on 7/15/10, but had been strongly opposed to previous versions of the bill. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. AB 222 passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and was awaiting a hearing on the Senate floor. It previously passed the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, as well as the Assembly Policy and Fiscal Committees.
AB 283 (Chesbro) - Extended Producer Responsibility - Support
Summary: Would implement an Extended Producer Responsibility program in California that would require manufacturers increase the recyclability, and recycling, of their products, as well as reduce toxicity. AB 283 was held under submission in ASM Appropriations.
AB 473 (Blumenfield) - Multifamily Recycling - Support
Summary: Provides a residential recycling opportunity for more than 7.1 million Californians residing in more than 2.4 million multifamily dwelling units. Status: AB 473 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct. 11. AB 473 previously has passed both houses of the legislature, as well as the Assembly and Senate Policy and Fiscal Committees.
AB 737 (Chesbro) - Solid Waste Diversion - Support
Summary: AB 737 would expand recycling to every multi-family dwelling and commercial business in California and direct the state come up with a plan to reach a 75% diversion rate. Status: AB 737 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger Sep 28. View the veto message. It previously passed the policy and fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate.
AB 903 (Chesbro) - Compostable Bags - Support
Summary: AB 903 requires that compostable bags carry a unique label that will readily distinguish them from non-compostable bags. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
AB 925 (Saldaña) - Bottle Caps - Support
Summary: Requires bottle caps be attached to the container and be recyclable. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Sen EQ July 6 with a 4-2 vote, off the Assembly Floor May 4 with a 42-34 vote, and passed out of Asm NR April 20 with a 6-3 vote.
AB 1141 (Calderon) - Carryout Bags - Oppose
Summary: AB 1141 would have required manufacturers of plastic bags to pay a $0.001 per-bag fee, but would have denied the proceeds of this fee to cities that have banned any single-use bag and also would have required cities that have banned single-use bags to provide alternative single-use bags at no cost. Status: AB 1141 was held in Asm Natural Resources April 20.
AB 1173 (Huffman) - Fluorescent Lamp Toxics Reduction and Recycling Act - Sponsor
Summary: Creates a free and convenient program for consumers to properly dispose of residential fluorescent lights (RFL). Status: AB 1173 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct 11. Read veto message. passed through the Assembly and Senate. Now, to the Governor's Desk.
AB 1329 (Brownley & Chesbro) - Delay of CIWMB Abolition - Support
Summary: AB 1329 (Brownley and Chesbro) would delay the abolition of the California Integrated Waste Management Board for 1 year to allow more time to plan the details of this transition. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
AB 1343 (Huffman) - Paint Recovery Act - Sponsor
Summary: This measure will require paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of the disposal of postconsumer paint in this state. Status: AB 1343 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger Sep 28. View the implementation effort. It previously passed the policy and fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate. This was a 2-year bill.
AB 1358 (Hill) Polystyrene Food Packaging Ban - Support
Summary: Bans the use of expanded polystyrene food packaging. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Asm APPR May 28 with a 9-5 vote and out of Asm NR April 27 with a 6-3 vote.
AB 1998 (Brownley) - Plastic Bag Ban - Support
Summary: AB 1998 reduces plastic litter pollution and increases reusable bag use by banning plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and similar stores. Status: Press Release: AB 1998 Fails Passage. The bill failed to pass off the Senate Floor, receiving a 14-21 vote Aug 31. Previously, the bill was voted out of Senate Appropriations Committee with a 7-3 vote Aug 31, passed out of Senate Environmental Quality Committee on June 28 with a 5-2 vote, passed off the Assembly Floor on Jun 2 with a 42-27 vote, passed out of Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 28 with a 11-5 vote, passed out of assembly Natural Resources Committee on April 12 and was introduced Feb 18.
AB 2137 (Chesbro) Compost Labeling - Support
Summary: AB 2137 would allow composters to continue the longstanding practice of providing certified lab analyses showing the nutrient contents of their product to their customers, pending the completion of CDFA’s evaluation of the proper regulatory standards for this material. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
AB 2138 (Chesbro) Plastic Ocean Pollution Reduction, Recycling and Composting Act - Support
Summary: Requires food providers to use only recyclable or compostable take-out food packaging and bags. Status: AB 2138 was held in Assembly Appropriations committee. Previously, the bill passed Assembly Natural Resources Committee April 12 and was introduced February 18.
AB 2139 (Chesbro) Product Stewardship Framework - Support
Summary: Requires producers of covered products to participate in a product stewardship program, under a plan approved by CalRecycle. The Department will recommend a consumer product be included as a covered product, if the product has one or more of the following impacts: 1) it poses a significant threat to public health and safety when disposed; or 2) poses a threat of increased greenhouse gas emissions; and or 3) imposes significant end-of-life management costs on state or local government. Status: AB 2139 died on the Assembly floor 30-31 vote. Previously, it passed Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Com 4/13 and Natural Resources Committee on 4/19. AB 2139 passed out of Asm Appropriations.
AB 2176 (Blumenfield) California Lighting Toxics Reduction and Recycling Bill - Support
Summary: Product stewardship for mercury containing lamps and fee on lamps that don’t contain mercury, and are deemed less efficient. Status: AB 2176 passed Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee but was held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 2398 (John A. Pérez) - Carpet Product Stewardship - Support
Summary: Requires producers of carpet to participate in a product stewardship program, under a plan approved by CalRecycle. This bill now has the support of the recyclers, carpet manufacturers, local governments, and environmental groups. Status: This bill passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor on September 30, establishing the nation's first comprehensive and industry-financed carpet recycling program. It previously passed the policy and fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate.
AB 2718 (Adams) Reducing Opportunities to Recycle - Oppose
Summary: AB 2718 (Adams) would reduce opportunities to recycle by exempting supermarkets from current requirements to redeem beverage containers in-store if the supermarket is unserved by a recycling center. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. AB 2718 was introduced Feb 19.
SB 25 (Padilla) - Solid Waste Diversion - Support
Summary: Requires the California Integrated Waste Management Board to adopt policies, programs, and incentives to increase statewide waste diversion to 75%. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. It passed the Senate floor, but was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee before the legislative deadline. Previously, the bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
SB 44 (Denham) Abolish the California Integrated Waste Management Board - Oppose
Summary: SB 44 would abolish the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
SB 55 (Corbett) - Container Recycling - Support
Summary: Addresses Bottle Bill funding. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Portions of SB 55 were amended into SB 402. The bill passed out of Asm NR Jul 6 with a 9-0 vote, off the Senate Floor May 28 with a 29-4 vote and out of Sen EQ April 20 with a 5-2 vote.
SB 402 (Wolk) Strengthening California's Bottle Bill - Support
Summary: Balances the Bottle Bill Fund by ending program exemptions and decreasing the 10 cent CRV threshold to 20 ounces from 24 ounces, ending the exemption given to non-bottle-and-can beverage containers, and other measures. Status: SB 402 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct 11. Read veto message and CAW response. Previously, SB 402 received a 58-16 vote in the Assembly and a 22-14 vote in the Senate and a 8-0 vote in Assembly Natural Resources on Sep 11.
SB 531 (DeSaulnier) - Carryout Bags
Summary: SB 531 adds details to pre-existing plastic bag manufacturer obligations regarding recycling education. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Sen APPR May 18 with a 8-3 vote and out of Sen EQ April 27 with a 5-2 vote.
SB 546 (Lowenthal) - Used Motor Oil Recycling Act - Support
Summary: SB 546 increase the recycling incentive and also set a rerefining incentive for used motor oil. This bill will also streamline the process for recycling grants, and generally, bring program revenues and expenditures back into balance. Status: SB 546 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct 11.
SB 723 (DeSaulnier) - E-waste Payment Adjustment - Support
Summary: SB 723 would authorize the CIWMB to adjust E-waste Collector and Recycler payments annually, rather than every two years. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
SB 803 (DeSaulnier) - Plastic Packaging - Support
Summary: Directs CIWMB to reduce the volume of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) packaging 50% beginning 2011. Status: This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
SB 920 (Yee) - Phone Book Opt-Out - Support
Summary: SB 920 will help reduce waste and consumer utility costs while conserving resources and protecting the environment by making it easier for consumers to opt-out of receiving unwanted directories. Status: SB 920 died on the senate floor, with a 12-18 vote. It previously passed Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee 4/20/10 and passed Senate Appropriations with 6-4 vote. Take ACTION! Send a support letter for SB 920
SB 1052 (Oropeza) E-waste Reporting Requirement - Support
Summary: Requires state agencies to adopt an electronic waste management plan and submit that plan to DTSC for approval. Status: SB 1052 passed Senate Environmental Quality Committee but was held in Senate Appropriations.
SB 1100 (Corbett) Household Battery Recycling Bill - Support
Summary: Product stewardship for household batteries. Status: This bill died with the closing of the 2009-10 legislative session. SB 1100 was heard in the Asm Approps Committee and placed on suspense. Previously, it passed Senate Environmental Quality Committee, and Senate Appropriations. It passed Senate Floor 23-10.
SB 1454 (DeSaulnier) - Truthful Environmental Advertising in Plastics - Support
Summary: SB 1454 expands the scope of current plastic end-of-life claim labeling requirements from bags and food packaging to all plastic products. SB 1454 prevents consumer deception by tying end-of-life claims to pass/fail technical standards (called “ASTM standard specifications”) and explicitly prohibits inherently misleading and dishonest claims, like “biodegradable”. Status: SB 1454 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger Sep 28.
AB 7 (Evans, 2009-10) - Bottle Bill Budget Fix
Summary.
AB 7 will immediately restore roughly $15 million per month in core recycling funding under California's successful bottle bill. Funding was cut last July forcing the closure of hundreds of centers and the loss of several hundred 'green jobs'. AB 7 will immediately restore funding and prevent millions in further cuts to recyclers, local governments, conservation corps and other core components of California's successful bottle bill.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. Signed on March 8, AB 7 is an urgency measure and will take effect immediately. AB 7 was in the eighth extraordinary session of the legislature (AB"X8" 7). Previously, AB 7 passed off the Assembly Floor Feb 25 with a 63-0 vote, passed out of Assembly Budget Committee on Feb 24 with a 24-0 vote, failed an Assembly floor vote February 22 48-1, passed off the Senate Floor February 18 with a 30-6 vote and was introduced February 12.
Description.
California's successful Beverage Container Recycling Program is under threat due to significant cuts to core recycling programs, such as payments for supermarket-based recycling, payments for curbside recycling and payments to conservation corps recycling. Cuts are due in large part to outstanding loan repayments to General Fund. Without AB 7, California recyclers and local governments would have continued to face millions in cuts, including:
$15 million for curbside recycling
$8.25 million for conservation corps recycling
$20 million for recycling grants
$10.5 million to local governments
$10 million for quality incentive payments for glass
$10 million for market development for plastic containers
$44 million in handling fees for supermarket recycling centers
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Supporters:
Californians Against Waste
Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste)
California Coastal Coalition
California Refuse Recycling Council
California Resource Recovery Association
Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
City of San Jose
City of Sunnyvale
League of California Cities
AB 68 (Brownley, 2009-10) - Offsetting the Costs of Single-Use Bag Litter
Summary.
Requires that consumers pay a $0.25 fee for single-use bags distributed at large grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Asm NR April 13 with a 6-3 vote.
Description.
This bill would offset the environmental costs associated with single-use carryout bags litter, reduce the littering of plastic bags and incentivize the use of reusable bags. Plastic bags are among the most-often littered items in urban areas. Urban litter accounts for the vast majority of dangerous marine debris pollution. In some areas of the Pacific, plastic already outweighs plankton by a factor of 46! The bill would put a fee on all single-use carryout bags which can be avoided by consumers by using reusable bags. A similar approach in Ireland reduced plastic bag usage by over 90%. Consumers are currently paying for the costs of bag litter twice: first in the form of increased grocery costs to pay for the bags and second in taxes to fight litter. The bill would potentially reduce costs to consumers through grocery bills and taxes by decreasing bag usage and providing local governments with money to fight litter.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Support.
Heal the Bay (sponsor)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Ballona Creek Renaissance
Breathe California
California Coastkeeper Alliance
California State Association of Counties
Californians Against Waste
Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education
ChicoBag
City of Los Angeles
City of Oakland
Clean Water Action
Defenders of Wildlife
Earth Resource Foundation
Environment California
Environmental Justice Coalition for Water
Faith2Green
Friends of the LA River
Global Green USA
Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council
Heal the Ocean
Malibu Surfing Association
Marin Sanitary Service
Natural Resources Defense Council
One Bag At a Time
Orange County Coastkeeper
Planning and Conservation League
ReuseThisBag.com
Ross Mirkarimi, Member, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Saatchi & Saatchi S
San Diego Coastkeeper
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Santa Monica Baykeeper
Save the Bay
Sierra Club California
Southern California Watershed Alliance
Surfrider Foundation
The River Project
TreePeople
Urban Environmental Policy Institute
Urban Semillas
WiLDCOAST
1 Bag at a Time
Opposition.
American Forest and Paper Association
Cal-Tax
AB 87 (Davis, 2009-10) - Offsetting the Costs of Single-Use Bag Litter
Summary.
Requires that consumers pay a $0.25 fee for single-use bags distributed at large grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Asm NR April 13 with a 6-3 vote.
Description.
This bill would offset the environmental costs associated with single-use carryout bags litter, reduce the littering of plastic bags and incentivize the use of reusable bags. Plastic bags are among the most-often littered items in urban areas. Urban litter accounts for the vast majority of dangerous marine debris pollution. In some areas of the Pacific, plastic already outweighs plankton by a factor of 46! The bill would put a fee on all single-use carryout bags which can be avoided by consumers by using reusable bags. A similar approach in Ireland reduced plastic bag usage by over 90%. Consumers are currently paying for the costs of bag litter twice: first in the form of increased grocery costs to pay for the bags and second in taxes to fight litter. The bill would potentially reduce costs to consumers through grocery bills and taxes by decreasing bag usage and providing local governments with money to fight litter.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Support.
County of Los Angeles (sponsor)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Breathe California
California State Association of Counties
Californians Against Waste
City of Glendale
City of Torrance
Coalition for a Safe Environment Long Beach board members Weeks and Maciel
earthpins
Long Beach Coalition for a Safe Environment
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee
Marin Sanitary Service
Sierra Club California
Tamalpais Community Services District
Opposition.
Cal-Tax
California Film Extruders & Converters Association
California Grocers Association
California Independent Grocers Association
AB 147 (Saldaña, 2009-10) - Consumer Electronics Toxics Reporting Requirement
Summary.
Authorizes DTSC to request documentation from electronics manufacturers about the amount of hazardous materials contained in the consumer electronics they offer for sale in the State.
Position and Status.
CAW Sponsored. AB 147 has passed both houses of the legislature but was vetoed by the Governor.
Description.
Current California law prohibits hazardous materials from electronic devices with a video screen of larger than 4", and just last year the legislature enacted the Green Chemistry Initiative, which requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to regulate chemicals of concern in consumer products so they can be replaced with more benign alternatives. This bill will enable DTSC to effectively enforce the existing hazardous materials ban and inform the Green Chemistry Initiative.
This bill gives the DTSC the authority to request documentation from electronics manufacturers detailing the amount of hazardous materials contained in their products. Manufacturers are currently providing this information upon request in the European Union per its RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive. Without this authority, DTSC has to do expensive product-by-product testing to determine the hazardous materials content, if any, of a consumer item sold in the state.
CAW Staff Contact.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Support:
Californians Against Waste (Sponsor)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
AFL-CIO
Environmental Working Group
Sierra Club California
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
Opposition:
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
California Business Properties Association
California Chamber of Commerce
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California Retailers Association
Consumer Electronics Association
Industrial Environmental Association
Information Technology Industry Council
TechAmerica
TechNet
AB 222 (Adams, 2009-10) Bio-Refineries / Conversion Technologies
Summary.
AB 222 (Adams) was amended on July 15th to no longer give diversion and RPS credit to waste-to-energy. technologies. Previous version of the bill would have allowed controversial and environmentally-unproven waste-to-energy technologies to count as “recycling” under the state’s landmark recycling law (even though they destroy resources) and to count as “renewable” under the state’s renewable energy law (even though they generate electricity from fossil sources and recyclable materials). The bill would have also eliminate existing environmental protections in statute that prohibit a solid waste conversion facility from emitting air and water pollution.
Position and Status.
CAW is neutral on the bill as amended on 7/15/10, but had been strongly opposed to previous versions of the bill. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. AB 222 passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and was awaiting a hearing on the Senate floor. It previously passed the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, as well as the Assembly Policy and Fiscal Committees.
Description.
So called "conversion technology" facilities do not recycle in the traditional sense. Unlike a glass recycler, for instance, which takes post-consumer collected glass bottles and recycles them back into bottles; most CT facilities are designed to turn materials into fuels which by their nature can only be used once and then the resource is destroyed.
Despite the lack of experience with these technologies, previous versions of this bill would have allowed these "black box" technologies to be classified as recycling and therefore count toward diversion under AB 939. It would have also eliminate environmental safeguards requiring these facilities to have no emissions.
CAW strongly believes there is no basis for counting these technologies as recycling at this time. Diversion credit is the ultimate incentive, providing a virtual state mandate for these facilities.
AB 222 would have allowed electricity generated from readily recyclable wastes to count as renewable energy towards the state’s renewable energy law. This would have undercut the planned greenhouse gas reductions from the state’s renewable energy efforts and significantly harmed the development of true renewables, like solar and wind.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Support. (From Senate Floor Analysis, 8/4/10)
BioEnergy Producers Association (source)
adaptiveARC, Inc.
Biomass Coordinating Council
California Farm Bureau Federation
California State Association of Counties
Cities of Bell, Glendale, Hawthorne, Pico Rivera and Vernon
Clean Cities Coalition
Clements Environmental
Fulcrum BioEnergy,Inc.
Global Energy, Inc.
ICM, Inc.
INEOS Bio
International Union of Operating Engineers
Interstate Waste Technologies
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee
Long Beach Coalition for a Safe Environment
Marin Sanitary Service
Miller De Wulf Corporation
North Valley Coalition
New Planet Energy, LLC
Orange County Board of Supervisors
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Phoenix Biomass Energy, Inc.
Redwood City Planning
Remediation Earth, Inc.
Republic Services, Inc.
San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors
San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management
Authority
Sempra Energy
Solid Waste Association of North America
Southern California Edison
Sustainable conservation
Ternion Bio Industries
ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
Theroux Environmental
Waste To Energy, LLC
Yolo County Board of Supervisors
Opposition. (From Senate Floor Analysis, 8/4/10)
Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Recycling
Board
Breathe California
California Chamber of Commerce (unless amended)
California League of Conservation Voters Council
California Resource Recovery Association
Center for Biological Diversity
Clean Water Action
Coalition for Clean Air
Environment California
Environmental Defense Fund
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance
GreenAction
Natural Resources Defense Council
Planning and Conservation League
Sierra Club California
Solid Waste Association (unless amended)
AB 283 (Chesbro, 2009-10) - Extended Producer Responsibility
Summary.
Would implement an Extended Producer Responsibility program in California that would require manufacturers increase the recyclability, and recycling, of their products, as well as reduce toxicity.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 283 was held under submission in ASM Appropriations.
Description.
AB 283 would give the California Integrated Waste Management Board the authority to select products for inclusion in an Extended Producer Responsibility program. After 2012, selected products would be required to improve waste collection, maximize recycling, and reduce overall the life-cycle impact of the product.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
AB 473 (Blumenfield, 2009-10) - Multifamily Recycling
Summary.
Provides a residential recycling opportunity for more than 7.1 million Californians residing in more than 2.4 million multifamily dwelling units.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 473 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct. 11. AB 473 previously has passed both houses of the legislature, as well as the Assembly and Senate Policy and Fiscal Committees.
Description.
California as a whole currently diverts more than 50 percent of its generated waste, with only an estimated 15% of waste generated at multifamily dwellings being diverted.
While nearly 70 percent of Californians living in single family homes have access to curbside recycling, no more than 40 percent of those living in multifamily dwellings have access to a residential recycling opportunity-and many of those are unaware of it.
AB 473 will require that an owner of a multifamily dwelling to arrange appropriate recycling services for the dwelling on and after July 1, 2009. The bill is identical to two bills CAW sponsored in the previous legislative session, AB 548 and AB 822.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray and Nick Lapis (916) 443-5422
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME AFL-CIO)
Breathe California
California State Association of Counties
Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
Green CA
Marin Resource Recovery
Marin Sanitary Service
Orange County Board of Supervisors
Sierra Club California
Solid Waste Association of North America
City of Sunnyvale
AB 737 (Chesbro, 2009-10) - Solid Waste Diversion
Summary.
AB 737 would expand recycling to every multi-family dwelling and commercial business in California and direct the state come up with a plan to reach a 75% diversion rate.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 737 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger Sep 28. It previously passed the policy and fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate.
Description.
AB 737 (by Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro) is a landmark piece of legislation that will move California forward from landfilling to waste reduction, recycling, and composting, by creating a commercial recycling program. While local diversion efforts have largely focused on residential recycling, there is still a large untapped recycling opportunity in the commercial sector, which comprises two-thirds of California’s waste stream. For example, California as a whole diverts 58% of its waste but large office buildings divert only 7%. More than half of the material disposed at these buildings consists of readily recyclable paper and cardboard. Other businesses also recycle at far lower rates than the rest of the state. Every day that these materials go to landfills represents a wasted opportunity to conserve our natural resources, reduce greenhouse gases, and create local green jobs.
In addition, this bill will build on the success of California's landmark 1989 recycling legislation (AB 939), which requires each city and county to cut their garbage in half by the year 2000, by requiring CalRecycle to develop a plan to increase statewide diversion to 75% by 2020.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste
Andersen, Bonnifield & Roscha
California League of Conservation Voters
California Refuse Recycling Council - Southern District
California Refuse Recycling Council - Northern District
California State Association of Counties
City of Oakland
CR&R Inc (Perris, CA)
East Bay Sanitary Co. (Contra Costa)
Inland Empire Disposal Association
League of California Cities
Los Angeles County Waste Management Association
Marin Sanitary Service
Napa Recycling & Waste Services
Palm Springs Disposal Services
Recology
Regional Council of Rural Counties
Republic Services
Sierra Club CA
Solid Waste Association of Orange County
Stockton Tri Industries (San Joaquin)
Stop Waste.org (Alameda County)
Varner Bros, Inc. (Bakersfield)
Waste Management
Westhoff Cone & Holmstedt (Walnut Creek)
Western Truck Center
Opposition:
California Association of Realtors (oppose-unless amended)
California Business Properties Association
California Chamber of Commerce
Integrated Waste Management Task Force
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee
The Thursday Group
AB 903 (Chesbro, 2009-10) - Compostable Bags
Summary.
AB 903 requires that compostable bags carry a unique label that will readily distinguish them from non-compostable bags.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
Description.
AB 903 will require bags that meet California standards for compostability to be clearly labeled in order to ensure they are recovered for composting.
AB 925 (Saldaña, 2009-10) - Bottle Caps
Summary.
Requires bottle caps be attached to the container and be recyclable.
Position and Status.
Support. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Sen EQ July 6 with a 4-2 vote, off the Assembly Floor May 4 with a 42-34 vote, and passed out of Asm NR April 20 with a 6-3 vote.
Description.
As more than half of all single use beverages in plastic containers being consumed outside of the home, these bottle caps can easily become part of the litter and waste stream. Beach clean-up studies find that bottle caps are among most littered items. AB 925 proposes to address this problem by requiring that the bottle caps remain connected to the bottle, more than 60% of which are currently recycled, thereby significantly reducing the waste, litter and threat to wildlife posed by discarded bottle caps.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Support.
As You Sow Foundation
Californians Against Waste
California Coastkeeper
California League of Conservation Voters
Clean Water Action / Clean Water Fund
Faith2Green
Green Sangha
Heal the Bay
JUNK
Ocean Advocate
Natural Resources Defense Council
San Diego Coastkeeper
Santa Monica Baykeeper
Save the Bay
Seventh Generation Advisors
Sierra Club California
Surfrider
Urban Semillas
Opposition.
California Grocers Association
California Nevada Soft Drink Association
California Retailers Association
Grocery Manufacturers Association
AB 1141 (Calderon, 2009-10) - Carryout Bags
Summary.
AB 1141 would have required manufacturers of plastic bags to pay a $0.001 per-bag fee, but would have denied the proceeds of this fee to cities that have banned any single-use bag and also would have required cities that have banned single-use bags to provide alternative single-use bags at no cost.
Position and Status.
CAW opposed. AB 1141 was held in Asm NR April 20.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
AB 1173 (Huffman, 2009-10) - Fluorescent Lamp Toxics Reduction and Recycling Act
Summary.
Creates a free and convenient program for consumers to properly dispose of residential fluorescent lights (RFL).
Position and Status.
CAW sponsors. AB 1173 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct 11.
Description.
While the environmental choice of using fluorescent lighting over incandescent lighting is a clear one, the current generation of fluorescent lights is not without their issues because each fluorescent lamp contains mercury.
Phasing out the use of preheat fluorescent lamps, many of which are very high in mercury content
Requiring retailers receiving public energy efficiency funds to provide the public with convenient in-store collection opportunities for the recycling of residential fluorescent lamps; and
Requiring lamp manufacturers that receive public energy efficiency funds to:
Limit their basic lamps to four milligrams of mercury or less;
Meet Energy Star standards for longevity, quality and efficiency; and
Establish and maintain a comprehensive residential fluorescent lamp recycling program
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Support
Californians Against Waste
The Utility Reform Network (TURN)
California Refuse Recycling Council
City of Sebastopol
San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority
Marin Sanitary Service
California Retailers Association
OSRAM Sylvania
GE
Opposition
California's Taxpayers' Association
Stop Hidden Taxes Coalition
Natural Resources Defense Council
City and County of San Francisco
California Product Stewardship Council
Clean Water Action
Sempra Energy
City of Sunnyvale
California Resource Recovery Association
AB 1329 (Brownley & Chesbro, 2009-10) - Delay of CIWMB Abolition
Summary.
AB 1329 (Brownley and Chesbro) would delay the abolition of the California Integrated Waste Management Board for 1 year to allow more time to plan the details of this transition.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
Description.
As part of July's budget deal, the legislature adopted a measure abolishing the California Integrated Waste Management Board and sending its staff and functions to a new department in the Resources Agency effective January, 2010.
AB 1329 would delay the implementation of this proposal for one year to allow enough time for the details of this transition to be developed.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Support.
Californians Against Waste
AB 1343 (Huffman, 2009-10) - Paint Recovery Act
Summary.
This measure will require paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of the disposal of postconsumer paint in this state.
Position and Status.
CAW-sponsored. AB 1343 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger Sep 28. It previously passed the policy and fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate. This was a 2-year bill.
Description.
Leftover paint poses a significant environmental and cost burden to local governments and the state. This measure will reduce this burden by requiring manufacturers to take responsibility for establishing and financing a safe and reliable system for the recovery and proper management of leftover (postconsumer) paint generated by consumers in this state.
The bill is supported by American Coatings Association and the California Paint Council because this paint model has gone through a multi-stakeholder national discussion for the last few years and has been successfully implemented in Oregon.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Support:
Ace Hardware
California Paint Council
California Product Stewardship Council
California Retailers Association
Californians Against Waste (sponsor)
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Cities of Cupertino, San Diego, and Sunnyvale
City and County of San Francisco
County of Tuolumne
Diamond Vogel Paint Company
Dunn-Edwards Corporation
Ecology Action of Santa Cruz
Humboldt Waste Management Authority
Kelly-Moore Paint Co., Inc.
National Paint and Coatings Association
Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste
Management Joint Powers Authority
PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc.
San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management
Authority
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
Sierra Club California
Solid Waste Association of North America
Sonoma County Waste Management Agency
Waste Management
West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Authority
Opposition:
None on file.
AB 1358 (Hill, 2009-10) Polystyrene Food Packaging Ban
Summary.
Bans the use of expanded polystyrene food packaging.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Assembly APPR May 28 with a 9-5 vote and out of Assembly Natural Resources April 27 with a 6-3 vote.
Description.
AB 1358 prohibits food vendors from distributing expanded polystyrene food packaging. Polystyrene is one of the largest components of marine debris pollution because it is easily transported by wind and rain into the marine environment. Once in the environment, it kills marine wildlife, including sea birds and turtles, which mistake it for food.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Support.
Californians Against Waste
City and County of San Francisco
City of San Clemente
County of Santa Clara
Defenders of Wildlife
Environment California
Global Green USA
Green Sangha
Greenleaf Project Management
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
Heal the Bay
Heal the Ocean
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Authority
Malibu Surfing Association
Napa Recycling & Waste Services, LLC
Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment
Planning and Conservation League
San Diego Coastkeeper
Save the Bay
Sierra Club California
StopWaste.org
Surfrider Foundation
The Lobster
Worksafe
7th Generation Advisors
Opposition.
American Chemistry Council
American Forest and Paper Association
California Chamber of Commerce
California Film Extruders and Converters Association
California Grocers Association
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California Restaurant Association
California Retailers Association
Central City Association
Dart Container Corporation
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business
Neighborhood Market Association
Pactiv Corporation
Society of the Plastics Industry
Valley Industry and Commerce Association
Western Fairs Association
AB 1998 (Brownley, 2009-10) - Plastic Bag Ban
Summary.
AB 1998 reduces plastic litter pollution and increases reusable bag use by banning plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and similar stores.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. The bill failed to pass off the Senate Floor, receiving a 14-21 vote Aug 31. Previously, the bill was voted out of Senate Appropriations Committee with a 7-3 vote Aug 31, passed out of Senate Environmental Quality Committee on June 28 with a 5-2 vote, passed off the Assembly Floor on Jun 2 with a 42-27 vote, passed out of Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 28 with a 11-5 vote, passed out of assembly Natural Resources Committee on April 12 and was introduced Feb 18.
Description.
AB 1998 will eliminate the distribution of approximately 19 billion plastic bags in California by prohibiting grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and similar stores from distributing single-use plastic bags. Plastic bags are a primary component of urban litter pollution and marine litter pollution. Single-use plastic bags are light, aerodynamic and are littered at a high rate. Once littered, plastic bags travel through the environment, ultimately ending up in the ocean. Local government incurs significant costs to clean up plastic bag litter. And California families are unknowingly paying these costs in the form of higher fees and taxes, in addition to higher grocery costs to pay for the "free" single-use bags they receive at the store. AB 1998 will require retailers to sell recycled-content paper bags for their actual average cost. By ending the practice of hiding the costs of single-use bags, consumers will be able to make better informed decisions on whether to purchase single-use bags or to use reusable bags for free.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Current Language, Analyses and Votes.
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste
Heal the Bay
California Grocers Association
AFSCME
Amerigreenbag.com
Association of Communities United of South Los Angeles
Ballona Creek Renaissance
Bay Area Council
Berkeley Ecology Center
Blue Lotus Goods
California Association of Environmental Health Administrators
California Coastal Coalition
California Coastkeeper Alliance
California League of Conservation Voters
California Refuse Recycling Council
California State Lands Commission
Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
Chico Bag
Citizens For A Sustainable Monterey County
City of Berkeley
City of Burbank Mayor Anja Reinke
City of Carpinteria
City of Chula Vista
City of Del Mar
City of El Cerrito
City of Encinitas Councilmember Jerome Stocks
City of Encinitas Councilmember Teresa Barth
City of Encinitas Deputy Mayor Maggie Houlihan
City of Long Beach
City of Long Beach Councilmember Suja Lowenthal
City of Los Angeles
City of Malibu
City of Manhattan Beach
City of Milpitas
City of Newport Beach
City of Newport Beach Councilmember Nancy Gardner
City of Palo Alto
City of Pasadena
City of San Buenaventura
City of San Clemente
City of San Diego Councilmember Marti Emerald
City of San Diego Councilmember Sherri S. Lightner
City of San Francisco
City of San Jose
City of San Rafael
City of Santa Barbara
City of Santa Monica
City of Sebastopol
City of Solana Beach
City of South Lake Tahoe
City of Ventura
Clean South Bay
Clean Water Action California
Communities for a Better Environment
Community Environmental Council
Congresswoman Susan Davis
County of Humboldt
County of Los Angeles
County of Los Angeles
County of Marin
County of Monterey
County of San Francisco
County of Santa Clara
Defender of Wildlife
Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association
Duro Paper Bag Company
Earth Resource Foundation
Earthwise Bag Company
East Bay Municipal Utilities District
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Ecology Center
Endangered Habitats League
Environment California
Envirosax
Flip & Tumble, LLC
ForestEthics
Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market
Friends of Five Creeks
Global Green
Global IQ
Green Chamber of San Diego
Green Cities California
Green Sangha
Humboldt Coastkeepers
Humboldt Waste Management Authority
JPS Global Investments
Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council
League of Cities
Livermore Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee/ Integrated Waste Management Task Force
Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority
Marin County Monterey Regional Waste Management District
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Regional Waste Management District
Natural Resources Defense Council
Neighborhood Market Association
Northcoast Environmental Center
Northern California Recycling Association
Oak Park Neighborhood Association
OCEANA
Ocean Conservancy
One Bag at a Time
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Coastkeeper
Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment
Ormond Beach Observers
Planning and Conservation League
Plastic Pollution Coalition
Project GreenBag
PW Supermarkets
Rainforest Action Network
Regional Solid Waste Association
Rickshaw Bag Works Inc
Rite Aid
Safeway
San Diego Coastkeeper
San Diego County Disposal Association
San Diego County Integrated Waste Management Citizens Advisory Committee
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR)
San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission
Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission
Santa Monica Baykeeper
Save Mart Supermarkets
Save the Bay
Seventh Generation Advisors
Sierra Club of California
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Solid Waste Solutions, Inc
Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
State Lands Commission
Steven Bochco Productions
StopWaste.org - Alameda County Waste Management Authority
Super A Food, Inc
Surfers Environmental Alliance
Surfrider Foundation
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Union of Concerned Scientists
Urban Semillas
Washington Elementary PTA
Western States Council of the United Food & Commercial Workers
Wildcoast
Wilde Heritage Planners
WinCo Foods
Wisdom Academy for Young Scientists
Youth Opportunities for High School and Associations of Communities United of South Los Angeles (ACUSLA)
Opposition:
American Chemistry Council
American Forest & Paper Association
Biodegradable Products Institute
Bradley Packaging Systems
California Film Extruders & Converters Association
California Forestry Association
Californians for Extended Producer Responsibility
Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Command Packaging
Corona Chamber of Commerce
Crown Poly Inc
Great American Packaging
Heritage Bag
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Metabolix
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
AB 2137 (Chesbro, 2009-10) Compost Labeling
Summary.
AB 2137 would allow composters to continue the longstanding practice of providing certified lab analyses showing the nutrient contents of their product to their customers, pending the completion of CDFA’s evaluation of the proper regulatory standards for this material.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
Description.
Compost is a vital agricultural input that helps build healthy soils and increase crop yields. The production of compost from municipal organic waste is also a key component of the state’s waste reduction and recycling efforts. Furthermore, the diversion of organic waste from landfills and increased agricultural use of compost have both been identified as crucial greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
As a voluntary best management practice and in conjunction with various certification programs, composters regularly send samples of their product to third-party labs for an independent analysis of the nutrient content and other parameters in their compost. The results of recent lab analyses are often provided to customers as an indication of nutrient levels in the compost and to allow for the application of compost and other inputs at agronomic rates.
The nutrient content of finished compost is subject to significant variability based on the composition of incoming waste feedstocks, weather conditions, and the level of ongoing biological processes at work. As a result, nutrient levels determined in these voluntarily-provided lab analyses fluctuate, limiting any guarantee that the nutrient content for a given batch of finished compost will remain static over time.
CDFA has said that providing a laboratory analysis is equivalent to making a labeling claim, and the compost product would have to maintain consistent nutrient levels to comply with the labeling requirements. While this standard is appropriate for traditional fertilizers, it can not be meaningfully applied to the product of an inherently variable biological process such as composting.
AB 2137 would clarify that providing a certified lab analysis that shows the historical nutrient content of compost does not constitute making a label claim for the material, so long as the lab analysis is a representative sample of the material being sold and a disclaimer is provided along with the analysis. This bill would sunset at the end of 2013.
Supporters.
California Bio-Mass, Inc.
California Compost Coalition
Californians Against Waste
Community Recycling & Resource Recovery
Comgro Soil Amendments, Inc.
Lopez Ag Service
Nortech Waste
Recology
Republic Services, Inc.
Tracy Delta Solid Waste Management, Inc.
Tulare County Compost and Biomass, Inc.
Zanker Road Resource Management, Ltd.
Z-Best Products
CAW Staff Contacts.
Nick Lapis (916) 443-5422
Current Language, Analyses and Votes.
AB 2138 (Chesbro, 2009-10) Plastic Ocean Pollution Reduction, Recycling and Composting Act
Summary.
Requires food providers to use only recyclable or compostable takeoutfood packaging and bags.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. AB 2138 was held in Assembly Appropriations committee. Previously, the bill passed Assembly Natural Resources Committee April 12 and was introduced February 18.
Description.
Single-use packaging is a primary source of urban litter and oceanic litter pollution, according to storm drain and beach cleanup studies. Polystyrene, plastic bags and other non-recyclable packaging have a high propensity to be littered because they are light and aerodynamic and are consumed away from home. Up to 80% of ocean pollution is litter from urban runoff, and non-recyclable single-use food packaging is a primary component of urban litter. Single-use food packaging litter kills wildlife such as birds and endangered sea turtles that become entangled or mistake it for food. More than 1 million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals, and countless fish die from ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris.
The volume of nonrecycled single-use food packaging distributed annually in California is staggering: the fast food sector alone generates 4 million tons of waste annually in California and retailers are currently distributing almost 14 billion plastic bags annually.
Nonrecycled single-use food packaging costs California families hundreds annually in hidden litter clean-up costs. Local governments are especially hard hit by these costs. The City of Los Angeles estimates that compliance with Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for its impaired waterways, including those for litter pollution, will cost over $1 billion. Overall, plastic pollution severely threatens California’s $43 billion ocean economy. The volume of nonrecycled single-use food packaging distributed annually in California is staggering: the fast food sector alone generates 4 million tons of waste annually in California and retailers are currently distributing almost 14 billion plastic bags annually.
AB 2138 would prohibit food providers from distributing single-use food packaging and bags unless they are accepted for either recycling or composting in at least 75% of households in a jurisdiction and are recovered at rate of at least 25%. This policy will make the fast food sector financially responsible to:
Switch to packaging that is compatible with the recycling and/or composting services available in the communities they serve.
Work with local governments and recyclers to increase processing and market capacity for recyclable and compostable packaging alternatives.
Work with consumers to ensure that their packaging is recycled or composted.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Current Language, Analyses and Votes.
Supporters:
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
Californians Against Waste
City and County of San Francisco
Planning and Conservation League
Sierra Club California
Opposition:
American Chemistry Council
Biodegradable Products Institute
California Chamber of Commerce
California Film Extruders and Converters Association
California Grocers Association
California Restaurant Association
California Retailers Association
Additional Resources:
AB 2139 (Chesbro, 2009-10) Product Stewardship Framework
Summary: Requires producers of covered products to participate in a product stewardship program, under a plan approved by CalRecycle. The Department will recommend a consumer product be included as a covered product, if the product has one or more of the following impacts: 1) it poses a significant threat to public health and safety when disposed; or 2) poses a threat of increased greenhouse gas emissions; and or 3) imposes significant end-of-life management costs on state or local government.
Position and Status. CAW Supports. AB 2139 died on the Assembly floor 30-31 vote. Previously, it passed Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Com 4/13 and Natural Resources Committee on 4/19. AB 2139 passed out of Asm Appropriations.
Description. Requires producer of a covered product to collect the covered product pursuant to the product stewardship plan and to meet the performance goals included in the product stewardship plan. There is a sales prohibition on products made from non-conforming producers.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Support:
CA Resource Recovery Association
California Product Stewardship Council
Californians Against Waste
Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
City of San Francisco
Del Norte County Solid Waste Management Authority
Humboldt County Waste Management Authority
League of California Cities
Marin Sanitary Services
Napa County
Opposition:
BayBio
BIOCOM
The California Healthcare Institute
The Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association
AdvaMed
Consumer Specialty Products Association
Soap and Detergent Association
American Chemistry Council
California Chamber of Commerce
California Grocers Association
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Monsanto
Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment
Current Language, Analyses and Votes.
Additional Resources:
Learn more about Extended Producer Responsibility
AB 2176 (Blumenfield, 2009-10) California Lighting Toxics Reduction and Recycling Bill
Summary. Product stewardship for mercury containing lamps and fee on lamps that don’t contain mercury, and are deemed less efficient.
Position and Status. CAW Supports. AB 2176 passed Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee but was held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Description. Requires producers of mercury containing lamps to participate in a product stewardship program, under a plan approved by the Department of Toxics Substances Control. All mercury-containing lights collected by product stewardship programs must be recycled. In addition, lamps that don’t contain mercury, and are deemed less efficient will pay an annual fee to help in research to improve lighting efficiency; reduce toxic impacts from lighting technologies and other related projects.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Current Language, Analyses and Votes.
Support:
Natural Resources Defense Council (Sponsor)
Breast Cancer Fund
California Association of Environmental Health Administrators
California League of Conservation Voters
Californians Against Waste
California Product Stewardship Council
California Resource Recovery Association
Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
City and County of San Francisco
County of Santa Clara- Board of Supervisors
Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Working Group
Environment California
Napa County
Planning and Conservation League
Stop Waste
Opposition:
General Electric Lighting
OSRAM Sylvania, Inc.
Phillips
AB 2398 (John A. Pérez, 2009-10) - Carpet Product Stewardship
Summary: Requires producers of carpet to participate in a product stewardship program, under a plan approved by CalRecycle. This bill now has the support of the recyclers, carpet manufacturers, local governments, and environmental groups.
Position and Status. CAW supports. This bill passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor on September 30, establishing the nation's first comprehensive and industry-financed carpet recycling program. It previously passed the policy and fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate.
Description. AB 2398 requires manufacturers of carpet sold in California to develop, operate and finance a program to comprehensively manage end of life carpet generated California. The manufacturers are authorized to establish a fee of 5 cents/yard to cover the costs of the program. There is a sales prohibition on products made from non-conforming producers. This measure will create increased demand for recycled carpet products in California by increasing the state’s recycled content requirement for carpet bought by the state (from 10% post-consumer recycled content to 25% post-consumer carpet content).
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Current Language, Analyses and Votes.
Supporters:
Association of Bay Area Governments
Bentley Prince Street Carpets
California Product Stewardship Council
California Refuse Recycling Council
California Resource Recovery Association
California Retailers Association
California State Association of Counties
Californians Against Waste
Carpet and Rug Institute
City and County of San Francisco
Cities of Camarillo, Eureka, Oakland, Sacramento,
Torrance, Ventura, and Vernon
Interface Carpets
League of California Cities
Los Angeles Fiber
Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Joint
Powers Authority
Marin Sanitary Services
Natural Resources Defense Council
Sierra Club California
Solid Waste Association of North America
StopWaste.org
Opposition:
Cal-Tax
Lassen Regional Solid Waste Management Authority
Additional Resources:
Learn more about Extended Producer Responsibility
AB 2718 (Adams, 2009-10) Reducing Opportunities to Recycle
Summary.
AB 2718 (Adams) would reduce opportunities to recycle by exempting supermarkets from current requirements to redeem beverage containers in-store if the supermarket is unserved by a recycling center.
Position and Status.
CAW opposes. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. AB 2718 was introduced Feb 19.
Description.
Supermarkets are currently required to be served by a nearby recycling center or are required to redeem beverage containers in-store. AB 2718 (Adams) would exempt unserved supermarkets from this requirement and would reduce opportunities to recycle.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
SB 25 (Padilla, 2009-10) - Solid Waste Diversion
Summary.
Requires the California Integrated Waste Management Board to adopt policies, programs, and incentives to increase statewide waste diversion to 75%.
Position and Status.
CAW supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. It passed the Senate floor, but was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee before the legislative deadline. Previously, the bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
Description.
In 1989, California passed AB 939, or the CA Integrated Waste Management Act, which required each city and county, to not only develop a source reduction and recycling plan but required cities and counties to reach a 50% diversion rate by January 1, 2000. This bill would require CIWMB to adopt programs to increase statewide diversion to 75%.
CAW Staff Contact.
Mark Murray 916-443-5422
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste
SB 44 (Denham, 2009-10) Abolish the California Integrated Waste Management Board
Summary.
SB 44 would abolish the California Integrated Waste Management Board.
Position and Status.
CAW opposes. This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
Description.
The California Integrated Waste Management Board plays a vital role in enforcing recycling laws, encouraging local diversion efforts, and regulating solid waste facilities to ensure the protection of public health and safety. The members of the Board are appointed by the governor and legislative leaders to ensure proper oversight and public transparancy.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Opposition.
Californians Against Waste.
California Resource Recovery Association
SB 55 (Corbett, 2009-10) - Container Recycling
Summary.
Addresses Bottle Bill funding.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Portions of SB 55 were amended into SB 402. The bill passed out of Assembly Natural Resources July 6 with a 9-0 vote, off the Senate Floor May 28 with a 29-4 vote and out of Senate Environmental Quality April 20 with a 5-2 vote.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Additional Resources:
SB 402 (Wolk, 2009-10) Strengthening California's Bottle Bill
Summary.
Balances the Bottle Bill Fund by ending program exemptions and decreasing the 10 cent CRV threshold to 20 ounces from 24 ounces, ending the exemption given to non-bottle-and-can beverage containers, and other measures.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. SB 402 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct 11. Previously, SB 402 received a 58-16 vote in the Assembly and a 22-14 vote in the Senate and an 8-0 vote in Assembly Natural Resources on Sep 11.
Description.
California's successful Beverage Container Recycling Program is under threat by significant cuts to core recycling programs, such as payments for supermarket-based recycling, payments for curbside recycling and payments to conservation corps recycling. Due to the imbalance, the Department of Conservation was forced to: cut $131 million in funding for local governments, local conservation corps, curbside recycling, recycling market development and other performance-based incentives for recycling; and Increase beverage industry ‘processing fee’ costs by roughly $75 million. Additionally, some 600 California grocery stores are currently unserved by recycling centers, and without relief, they will be obligated to take containers inside their stores.
SB 402 will bring the Beverage Container Recycling Fund back into balance while strengthening recycling. Specifically, SB 402 will:
Expand the scope of beverage containers covered by the program to include all container types for existing beverages, regardless of size or material type.
Accelerate the timeframe for beverage distributors to make CRV payments from 90 to 60 days in order to better align with CRV ‘pay-out’ timeframe (20 days).
Move the existing 10 cent CRV threshold from containers 24 ounces and larger to containers 20 ounces and larger.
Reduce, suspend and eliminate non-core program expenditures by $36 million.
Maintain essential funding for ‘core program’ expenditures.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Additional Resources:
Supporters.
318 Store Managers
880 Individuals
Allan Company
Allied Waste
Anaheim Workforce Investment Board
Anchor Brewing Company
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
Anthony Young, City of San Diego Councilmember
Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor City of Los Angeles
Applebee’s Restaurant, Visalia
Asian Immigrant Women Advocates
Auburn Alehosue
Audubon California
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Benjamin Hueso, City of San Diego Council President
Big Sur Land Trust
BJs Brewery
BrewBakers
CalCoast
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
California Bottled Water Association
California Coastal Coalition
California Grocers Association
California League of Conservation Voters
California Refuse Recycling Council
California ReLeaf
California Resource Recovery Association
California Retailers Association
California Small Brewers Association
California State Association of Counties
Californians Against Waste
Carl DeMaio, City of San Diego Councilmember
CBS Corporation, Los Angeles
Center for Advanced Research and Technology
Charles McGlashan, Marin County Supervisor
City and County of San Francisco Department of the Environment
City of Brea
City of El Monte
City of Encinitas
City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities
City of Long Beach Civil Service Department
City of Monterey
City of Napa
City of Oakland
City of Pasadena
City of Sacramento
City of San Diego
City of San Jose
City of Santa Barbara
City of Signal Hill
City of Sunnyvale
Coronado Brewing Company
County of Napa Environmental Management
County of Santa Clara
County of Sonoma
CR&R
Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
Crown Imports
Danny Gilmore, California State Assembly Member
Defenders of Wildlife
Donna Frye, City of San Diego Councilmember
Draeger's
Earth Wize Recycling
East Bay Regional Parks District
ECO2 Plastic, Inc.
Ecoplast
ecycler
Ed Begley, Jr.
Efren Carrillo, Sonoma County Supervisor
Ellen Ward, Mayor, City of Signal Hill
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Fox Theater ,Visalia
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission
Fresno Historical Society
Full Circle Brewing Co. Ltd.
Gary Liss, Town of Loomis Councilmember
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Glass Packaging Institute
Global Enterprise Strategy & Implementation
Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County Supervisor
Green Sangha
Greig Smith, City of Los Angeles Councilmember
Guzman&Gray, CPA, Long Beach
Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council
Hammond Law Office
Hanger 24 Craft Brewery
Heineken USA
Hensel Phelps Construction Co
Holiday/Sav-Mor Food
IMS Recycling Services
Independent Cities Association
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
International City Bank, Long Beach
J. Whalen Associates, Inc.
James Shelby, Mayor, City of Citrus Heights
Judy Arnold, Marin County Supervisor
Ken Yeager, Santa Clara County Supervisor
Kevin Johnson, Mayor, City of Sacramento
Kindt Automotive
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
League of California Cities
Local Conservation Corps
Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Unified School District
Lost Coast Brewery
Mammoth Brewing Company
Marin Brewing Co.
Marin Department of Cultural and Visitor Services
Marin Municipal Water District
Matrix Design Inc
Mendocino Brewing Co
Merlin Plastics
Michael Noll, City of Signal Hill City Councilmember
Miller Coors
MPA Architects
Napa Recycling and Waste Services
Natural Resources Defense Council
NatureWorks
Newmark Knight Frank
NexCycle
NexGen Energy Associates, Carlsbad
Nielsen Construction Co
North Coast Brewing Co
NRDC
Oakland Housing Authority
Ocean Conservancy
Orange County Business Council
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
Pelco By Shneider Electric, Clovis
Peninsual Plastics Recycling, Inc.
Peninsula Packaging Co.
Planning and Conservation League
Pyramid Breweries
Raley's
Ralph's
REDF
Regional Council of Rural Counties
Republic
Rio Hondo College
Ron Roberts, San Diego County Supervisor
Ronald V. Dellums, Mayor, City of Oakland
Rose Bowl Committee
Rubicon Brewing Company
Russian River Brewing Co
Safeway
San Diego Chargers
San Francisco Community Recyclers
San Marcos Brewery & Grill
Save Our Shores
Scolari's
Sierra Club California
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
SIEU Local 1000
Six Rivers Brewery
Sizzler Restaurant, Visalia
Skyscraper Brewing Company
Small Brewers Association
St. Stans Brewing Co.
Steve Kinsey, Marin County Supervisor
Stone Brewing Co.
StopWaste (Alameda County Waste Management Authority)
Strategic Materials
Superior Cleaning Equipment Inc., San Diego
Supervalu
Surfrider Foundation
Talco Plastic, Inc.
The Big Fresno Fair, City of Fresno
The Century Club of San Diego
The Cesar Chavez Service Club
The Nature Conservancy
Therese “Terry” Hennesy, Former Mayor of Tiburon
Tomra
Tri-City Economic Development Corporation
Triple Rock Brewing Co.
Trumer Brauerei
Urban Counties Caucus
UrbanOre
Valerie Brown, Sonoma County Supervisor
Waste Management, Inc.
Willie Brown, The Willie Brown Jr. Institute
Opposition.
California League of Food Processors
SB 531 (DeSaulnier, 2009-10) - Carryout Bags
Summary.
SB 531 adds details to pre-existing plastic bag manufacturer obligations regarding recycling education.
Position and Status.
This bill died with the close of the legislative session. Previously, the bill passed out of Senate APPR May 18 with an 8-3 vote and out of Sen EQ April 27 with a 5-2 vote.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
SB 546 (Lowenthal, 2009-10) - Used Motor Oil Recycling Act
Summary.
SB 546 increase the recycling incentive and also set a rerefining incentive for used motor oil. This bill will also streamline the process for recycling grants, and generally, bring program revenues and expenditures back into balance.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. SB 546 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on Oct 11.
Description.
This bill would increase the amount oil manufacturers have to pay to the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), while reducing the fee for lubricating oil with at least 70% re-refined oil.
SB 546 would redirect used motor oil from burning and promotes re-refining of used oil by setting a financial incentive of 2 cents per gallon in addition to the recycling incentive. The additional incentive would encourage the development of expanded capacity for re-refining used oil.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Additional Resources:
Learn more about used motor oil recycling
Support:
Californians Against Waste
Sierra Club California
Evergreen Oil, Inc.
DeMenno/Kerdoon
Waste Management
World Oil
City of Santa Monica
City and County of San Francisco
Independent Waste Oil Collectors and Transporters
Coast Oil
California Independent Oil Marketers Association
Opposition:
Safety-Kleen
Thermo Fluids
SB 723 (DeSaulnier, 2009-10) - E-waste Payment Adjustment
Summary.
SB 723 would authorize the CIWMB to adjust E-waste Collector and Recycler payments annually, rather than every two years.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
Description.
The current e-waste collector and recycler payments were adopted by the board on May 20, 2008 and were effective July 1, 2008. They are set to remain in effect until July 1, 2010. These ‘new’ payments are based on cost data from 2007. But in 2007, recyclers were receiving record high scrap prices. This in part resulted in the CIWMB lowering collection and recycling payments by 18.75%.
In 2008, market scrap values dropped to record low levels. With this drop in scrap value, the payments are no longer sufficient to cover local government and recyclers' costs. While the Waste Board recognizes this deficiency, they lack the statutory authority to adjust the payments until July 1, 2010.
SB 723 provides the Waste Board with the authority to make more timely adjustments of payments that are reflective of current cost and revenue data.
CAW Staff Contact.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
SB 803 (DeSaulnier, 2009-10) - Plastic Packaging
Summary.
Directs CIWMB to reduce the volume of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) packaging 50% beginning 2011.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. This bill died with the close of the legislative session.
Description.
Very little of the 60,000 tons of PVC packaging generated annually in California is recycled due to prohibitively high costs and lack of infrastructure and markets. The threat of Vinyl Chloride contamination is impeding the expansion of packaging container recycling. And PVC packaging contributes disproportionately to the state’s solid waste burden, compared to readily available and competitively priced alternatives, because there is virtually no recycling market or opportunity. SB 803 directs CIWMB to implement regulations by 2011 that would reduce the volume of polyvinyl chloride packaging by 50%.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
SB 920 (Yee, 2009-10) - Phone Book Opt-Out
Summary. SB 920 will help reduce waste and consumer utility costs while conserving resources and protecting the environment by making it easier for consumers to opt-out of receiving unwanted directories.
Position and Status. CAW Supports. SB 920 died on the senate floor, with a 12-18 vote. It previously passed Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee 4/20/10 and passed Senate Appropriations with 6-4 vote.
Description. Phone books have become obsolete in the age of fast internet connection and mobile phone apps. According to consumer surveys, 76% of respondents state that they ‘never’ use telephone directories. Another 20% say they rarely use them. Yet, it takes trees and energy to produce these phone books, and recycling them is a burden to local government and taxpayer dollars. SB 920 would strengthen the current opt-out requirements so that the opt-out phone number would be more prominently displayed on the phone book covers.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Support:
Californians Against Waste (sponsor)
California Resource Recovery Association
Natural Resources Defense Council
Environment California
Planning and conservation League
Opposition:
AT&T
California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation
California Chamber
California Communications Association
Frontier Communications
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Product Development Corporation
Valley Yellow Pages
World Color
Yellow Pages Association
SB 1052 (Oropeza, 2009-10) E-waste Reporting Requirement
Summary.
Requires state agencies to adopt an electronic waste management plan and submit that plan to DTSC for approval.
Position and Status. CAW Supports. SB 1052 passed Senate Environmental Quality Committee but was held in Senate Appropriations.
Description. Requires DTSC, CalRecycle and Department of General Services (DGS) to identify proper handling methods for electronic waste and assist state agencies with proper management. Authorizes DTSC to require a state agency to revise the plan and states that DTSC may take enforcement action against the state agency if electronic waste is not properly managed.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Supporters:
Californians Against Waste
Sierra Club
LA County Department of Public Works
Opposition:
None on file
SB 1100 (Corbett, 2009-10) Household Battery Recycling Bill
Summary Product stewardship for household batteries
Position and Status CAW Supports. This bill died with the closing of the 2009-10 legislative session. SB 1100 was heard in the Asm Approps Committee and placed on suspense. Previously, it passed Senate Environmental Quality Committee, and Senate Appropriations. It passed Senate Floor 23-10.
Description Producers of household batteries (such as alkaline, nickel-cadmium and other batteries typically generated as household waste) must submit a stewardship plan to Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and implement the plan upon its approval by DTSC. SB 1100 will also require battery manufacturers to meet recycling goals each year and report data to the Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery who will oversee the implementation of each manufacturer’s stewardship plan.
SB 1100 will help local governments’ bottom lines by saving tax-payer money used to manage toxic battery waste. It will also create green jobs recycling and collecting batteries. In addition, battery stewardship will help California’s environment by ensuring that battery waste is properly managed.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Tony Hackett (916) 443-5422
Supporters:
AERC Recycling Solutions
AkkuSer
Alameda County Waste Management
Association of Bay Area Governments
California Association of Environmental Health Administrators
California League of Conservation Voters
California Product Stewardship Council
California Professional Firefighters
California Resource Recovery Association
California Retailers Association
California State Association of Counties
Californians Against Waste
Castro Valley Sanitary District
Center for Environmental Health
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
City and County of San Francisco
City of Burbank
City of Encinitas
City of Indian wells
City of Needles
City of Palo Alto
City of Riverside
City of Sacramento
City of San Joaquin
City of Santa Cruz
City of Santa Monica
City of Torrance
City of Ventura
Clean Water Action
Coalition for Clean Air
County of Los Angeles
County of Marin
County of Napa
County of Sacramento
County of San Bernardino
County of Santa Clara
County of Siskiyou
County of Tuolumne
Del Note Solid Waste Authority
Environment California
Humboldt Waste Management Authority
Kinsbursky Brothers
Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority
Marin Sanitary Service
Napa Recycling & Waste Services
Natural Resource Defense Council
Planning and Conservation League
Raw Materials Company Inc.
Recology
Regional Council of Rural Counties
Republic
Sierra Club
Solid Waste Association of North America
Sonoma County Waste Management Agency
Oppositions:
Advanced Medical Technology Association
California Chamber of Commerce
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
Cal-Tax
Consumer Specialty Products Association
Grocery Manufacturers of America
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
PhRMA
TechAmerica
SB 1454 (DeSaulnier, 2009-10) - Truthful Environmental Advertising in Plastics
Summary.
SB 1454 expands the scope of current plastic end-of-life claim labeling requirements from bags and food packaging to all plastic products. SB 1454 prevents consumer deception by tying end-of-life claims to pass/fail technical standards (called “ASTM standard specifications”) and explicitly prohibits inherently misleading and dishonest claims, like “biodegradable”.
Position and Status.
CAW Supports. SB 1454 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger Sep 28. Previously, the bill passed off the Senate Floor Aug 25 with a 24-7 vote, passed off the Assembly floor Aug 23 with a 42-28 vote, passed out of Assembly Appropriations Committee on Aug 4 with an 11-5 vote, passed out of Judiciary Committee June 23 with a 7-3 vote, passed out of Assembly Natural Resources June 21 with a 6-0 vote, passed off the Senate Floor June 2 with a 26-8 vote, passed out of Sen APPR May 10 with a 7-1 vote, passed out of Sen EQ Apr 19 with a unanimous vote and was introduced Mar 25.
Description.
Due to the exceptional harm caused by plastics litter, and the increase in littering associated with labeling a product as "biodegradable", end-of-life labeling of plastics warrants special attention. "Biodegradable" is an inherently deceptive claim for plastic products as "biodegradable" denotes that a product will completely break down in a short time period. Plastic products do not meet that threshold. SB 1454 restricts the labeling of plastics as "biodegradable", regardless of plastic type, and allows only verifiable claims that do not deceive consumers. SB 1454 expands the scope of current California law prohibiting the labeling of plastic bags and food packaging as "biodegradable" to all plastics products from just bags and food packaging. Current law (PRC §42355-9; last amended in AB 1972 DeSaulnier 2008; originally adopted in SB 1749 Karnette 2004) applies to bags and food packaging and explicitly prohibits "biodegradable" and other inherently deceptive claims that are implicitly in violation of federal environmental advertising guidelines ("FTC Green Guides"). Current law ties testable and legitimate end-of-life claims to pass-or-fail tests called “ASTM standard specifications”, such as ASTM standard specification D6400 for “compostable”. This prevents consumer deception and guards against common abuse of lesser standards, such as manipulating ASTM test methods (which are not pass/fail tests) to make deceptive claims. “Biodegradable in a landfill” is also an inherently deceptive and unverifiable claim for which no ASTM standard specification exists because degradation in landfills is inhibited, in most landfills by design in order to prevent the formation of the powerful greenhouse gas methane. SB 1454 expands these provisions to apply to all plastic products.
CAW Staff Contacts.
Mark Murray (916) 443-5422
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste (Sponsor)
Association of Post-Consumer Plastic Recyclers
Biodegradable Products Institute
City and County of San Francisco
California Resources Recovery Association
Clean Water Action
Heritage Bag
Metabolix
Natureworks
Natural Resources Defense Council
Talco Plastics
Opposition.
Green Genius