AB 827: Solid waste: commercial and organic waste: recycling bins.
- Session Year: 2019-2020
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2019-10-02
Existing law requires a business that generates 4 cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste or 8 cubic yards or more of organic waste per week to arrange for recycling services, as specified.
This bill would require a business subject to either of those requirements, and that provides customers access to the business, to provide customers with a recycling bin or container for that waste stream that is visible, easily accessible, adjacent to each bin or container for trash other than that recyclable waste stream, except in restrooms, and clearly marked with educational signage, as specified. The bill would exempt full-service restaurants, as defined, from its requirements, as specified. The bill would also require the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to, on or before July 1, 2020, develop model signage that commercial and organic waste generators, as defined, may utilize to mark the recycling bins provided to customers.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a)Business means a commercial or public entity, including, but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or nonprofit entity, or a multifamily residential dwelling.
(b)Commercial solid waste includes all types of solid waste generated by a store, office, or other commercial or public entity source, including a business or a multifamily dwelling of five or more units.
(c)Commercial waste generator means a business subject to subdivision (a) of Section 42649.2.
(d)Full-service restaurant means an establishment with the primary business purpose of serving food, where food may be consumed on the premises, and an employee of the establishment takes all of the following actions:
(1)The consumer is escorted or assigned to an assigned eating area. The employee may choose the assigned eating area or may seat the consumer according to the consumers need for accommodation or other request.
(2)The consumers food and beverage orders are taken after the consumer has been seated at the assigned seating area.
(3)The food and beverage orders are delivered directly to the consumer.
(4)Any requested items associated with the consumers food or beverage order are brought to the consumer.
(5)The check is delivered directly to the consumer at the assigned eating area.
(e)Self-hauler means a business that hauls its own waste rather than contracting for that service.
SEC. 2.Section 42649.2 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42649.2.(a)On and after July 1, 2012, a business that generates four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week or is a multifamily residential dwelling of five units or more shall arrange for recycling services, consistent with state or local laws or requirements, including a local ordinance or agreement, applicable to the collection, handling, or recycling of solid waste, to the extent that these services are offered and reasonably available from a local service provider.
(b)A commercial waste generator shall take at least one of the following actions:
(1)Source separate recyclable materials from solid waste and subscribe to a basic level of recycling service that includes collection, self-hauling, or other arrangements for the pickup of the recyclable materials.
(2)Subscribe to a recycling service that may include mixed waste processing that yields diversion results comparable to source separation.
(c)(1)A business subject to subdivision (a) and that provides customers access to the business shall provide, on or before July 1, 2020, customers with a commercial solid waste recycling bin or container to collect material purchased on the premises and that fulfills all of the following requirements:
(A)Is adjacent to each bin or container for trash other than recyclable commercial solid waste, except in restrooms.
(B)Is visible and easily accessible.
(C)Is clearly marked with educational signage indicating what is appropriate to place in the commercial solid waste recycling bin or container in accordance with state law and the local jurisdictions solid waste ordinances and practices.
(2)Full-service restaurants are exempt from the requirements of this subdivision if the full-service restaurant, on or before July 1, 2020, provides its employees a commercial solid waste recycling bin or container to collect material purchased on the premises and implements a program to collect recyclable commercial solid waste.
(3)The department, on or before July 1, 2020, shall develop model signage that businesses may utilize in implementing paragraph (1).
(d)A property owner of a multifamily residential dwelling may require tenants to source separate their recyclable materials to aid in compliance with this section.
SEC. 3.Section 42649.8 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42649.8.For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a)Business means a commercial or public entity, including, but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or nonprofit entity, or a multifamily residential dwelling.
(b)Commercial waste generator means a business subject to subdivision (a) of Section 42649.2.
(c)Full-service restaurant means an establishment with the primary business purpose of serving food, where food may be consumed on the premises, and an employee of the establishment takes all of the following actions:
(1)The consumer is escorted or assigned to an assigned eating area. The employee may choose the assigned eating area or may seat the consumer according to the consumers need for accommodation or other request.
(2)The consumers food and beverage orders are taken after the consumer has been seated at the assigned seating area.
(3)The food and beverage orders are delivered directly to the consumer.
(4)Any requested items associated with the consumers food or beverage order are brought to the consumer.
(5)The check is delivered directly to the consumer at the assigned eating area.
(d)Organic waste means food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste.
(e)Organic waste generator means a business subject to subdivision (a) of Section 42649.81.
(f)Rural jurisdiction means a jurisdiction that is located entirely within one or more rural counties, or a regional agency comprised of jurisdictions that are located within one or more rural counties.
(g)Rural county means a county that has a total population of less than 70,000 persons.
(h)Self-hauler means a business that hauls its own waste rather than contracting for that service. Self-haul means to act as a self-hauler.
SEC. 4.Section 42649.81 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:42649.81.(a)(1)On and after April 1, 2016, a business that generates eight cubic yards or more of organic waste per week shall arrange for recycling services specifically for organic waste in the manner specified in subdivision (b).
(2)On and after January 1, 2017, a business that generates four cubic yards or more of organic waste per week shall arrange for recycling services specifically for organic waste in the manner specified in subdivision (b).
(3)On and after January 1, 2019, a business that generates four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste, as defined in Section 42649.1, per week, shall arrange for recycling services specifically for organic waste in the manner specified in subdivision (b).
(4)On or after January 1, 2020, if the department determines that statewide disposal of organic waste has not been reduced to 50 percent of the level of disposal during 2014, a business that generates two cubic yards or more per week of commercial solid waste shall arrange for the organic waste recycling services specified in paragraph (3), unless the department determines that this requirement will not result in significant additional reductions of organics disposal.
(5)A business located in a rural jurisdiction that is exempted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 42649.82 is not subject to this chapter.
(b)A business subject to subdivision (a) shall take at least one of the following actions:
(1)Source separate organic waste from other waste and subscribe to a basic level of organic waste recycling service that includes collection and recycling of organic waste.
(2)Recycle its organic waste onsite or self-haul its own organic waste for recycling.
(3)Subscribe to an organic waste recycling service that may include mixed waste processing that specifically recycles organic waste.
(4)Make other arrangements consistent with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 42649.84.
(c)A business that is a property owner may require a lessee or tenant of that property to source separate their organic waste to aid in compliance with this section.
(d)(1)A business subject to subdivision (a) and that provides customers access to the business shall provide, on or before July 1, 2020, customers with an organic waste recycling bin or container to collect material purchased on the premises for immediate consumption and that fulfills all of the following requirements:
(A)Is adjacent to each bin or container for trash other than recyclable organic waste, except in restrooms.
(B)Is visible and easily accessible.
(C)Is clearly marked with educational signage indicating what is appropriate to place in the organic waste recycling bin or container in accordance with state law and the local jurisdictions solid waste ordinances and practices.
(2)Full-service restaurants are exempt from the requirements of this subdivision if the full-service restaurant, on or before July 1, 2020, provides its employees an organic waste recycling bin or container to collect material purchased on the premises for immediate consumption and implements a program to collect recyclable organic waste.
(3)The department, on or before July 1, 2020, shall develop model signage that businesses may utilize in implementing paragraph (1).
(e)A business generating organic waste shall arrange for the recycling services required by this section in a manner that is consistent with state and local laws and requirements, including a local ordinance or local jurisdictions franchise agreement, applicable to the collection, handling, or recycling of solid and organic waste.
(f)When arranging for gardening or landscaping services, the contract or work agreement between a business subject to this section and a gardening or landscaping service shall require that the organic waste generated by those services be managed in compliance with this chapter.
(g)(1)A multifamily residential dwelling that consists of fewer than five units is not a business for purposes of this chapter.
(2)A business that is a multifamily dwelling is not required to arrange for the organic waste recycling services specified in subdivision (b) for food waste that is generated by the business.
(h)If separate organic waste collection and recycling services are not offered through a local ordinance or local jurisdictions franchise agreement, a business generating organic waste may arrange for separate organic waste collection and recycling services, until the local ordinance or local jurisdictions franchise agreement includes organic waste recycling services.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2019 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 441, Statutes of 2019. |
| Oct 2, 2019 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep 11, 2019 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m. |
| Sep 5, 2019 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Sep 3, 2019 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after September 5 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77. |
| Sep 3, 2019 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Aug 28, 2019 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 27, 2019 | Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading. |
| Jun 25, 2019 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jun 24, 2019 | From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8. |
| Jun 10, 2019 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5. |
| Jun 6, 2019 | Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jun 5, 2019 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 5). |
| May 23, 2019 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on EQ. |
| May 22, 2019 | Referred to Com. on EQ. |
| May 9, 2019 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 9, 2019 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| Apr 3, 2019 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Apr 2, 2019 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| Apr 1, 2019 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 25). |
| Mar 4, 2019 | Referred to Com. on NAT. RES. |
| Feb 21, 2019 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. |
| Feb 20, 2019 | Read first time. To print. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2019 | AB 827 McCarty Concurrence in Senate Amendments | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
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| Sep 3, 2019 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB827 McCarty By Allen | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jun 5, 2019 | Do pass as amended | Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality |
Passed |
|
| May 9, 2019 | AB 827 McCarty Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Mar 25, 2019 | Do pass as amended. | Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
CSA1 Bill Id:AB 827
Author:(McCarty)
As Amended Ver:August 27, 2019
Majority vote
SUMMARY:
Requires commercial waste generators and organic waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers, by July 1, 2020, with a commercial solid waste recycling bin or an organic waste recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises. This bill also requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to develop model signage that the businesses may utilize in implementing these requirements.
The Senate Amendments:
- Exempt full service restaurants, as defined, from the bill's requirements.
- Require CalRecycle to develop model signage that a commercial waste generator may use when implementing the bill.
- Make technical and clarifying changes.
COMMENTS:
An estimated 35 million tons of waste are disposed of in California's landfills annually. CalRecycle is tasked with diverting at least 75% of solid waste from landfills statewide by 2020. Local governments have been required to divert 50% of the waste generated within the jurisdiction from landfill disposal since 2000. AB 341 (Chesbro), Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011, requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services for the material they generate and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste generated by businesses out of the landfill. A follow up bill, AB 1826 (Chesbro), Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014, requires generators of organic waste (i.e., food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material to keep the material out of the landfill.
SB 1383 (Lara) Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016, required the California Air Resources Control Board (ARB) to approve and implement the comprehensive short-lived climate pollutant strategy to achieve, from 2013 levels, a 40% reduction in methane, a 40% reduction in hydrofluorocarbon gases, and a 50% reduction in anthropogenic black carbon, by 2030. In order to accomplish these goals, the bill specified that the methane emission reduction goals include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level.
This bill is intended to educate and involve consumers in achieving the state's recycling goals by requiring businesses to make recycling bins available to consumers with clear labels to indicate what materials are appropriate for each bin.
According to the Author:
California has set the ambitious goal of diverting 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025. In practical terms, this will mean that in 5 years Californians will have to learn how to properly sort their waste and understand what is and isn't compostable. This is no easy task. Given how often we eat out of the home, restaurants are a great place to start. AB 827 is a win-win, it will reduce GHGs, and help Californians learn how to properly sort their waste, and allow all of us to make climate smart choices.
Arguments in Support:
Supporters of this bill state that in order to reach the state's recycling goals and mandates, we need to establish practices like those established by the bill to build a foundation of education, behavior, and action at the beginning of the process to help alleviate the waste created and sent to landfills.
Arguments in Opposition:
Opponents of this bill voice concern regarding restaurants' ability to comply given the space limitations restaurants have.
FISCAL COMMENTS:
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, this bill has negligible state costs.
VOTES:
ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 8-0-3
YES: Friedman, Chau, Eggman, Cristina Garcia, Limón, McCarty, Muratsuchi, Mark Stone
ABS, ABST OR NV: Flora, Mathis, Melendez
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 55-9-16
YES: Aguiar-Curry, Bauer-Kahan, Berman, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Cooley, Daly, Diep, Eggman, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Levine, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Smith, Mark Stone, Ting, Waldron, Weber, Wicks, Wood, Rendon
NO: Brough, Choi, Cunningham, Lackey, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel
ABS, ABST OR NV: Arambula, Bigelow, Burke, Chen, Chu, Cooper, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Limón, Mayes, Ramos, Blanca Rubio
SENATE FLOOR: 30-9-1
YES: Allen, Archuleta, Atkins, Beall, Bradford, Caballero, Chang, Dodd, Durazo, Galgiani, Glazer, Lena Gonzalez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Jackson, Leyva, McGuire, Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Skinner, Stern, Umberg, Wieckowski, Wiener, Wilk
NO: Bates, Borgeas, Dahle, Grove, Jones, Moorlach, Morrell, Nielsen, Stone
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hurtado
UPDATED:
VERSION: August 27, 2019
CONSULTANT: Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0001837
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB 827 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 827
Amended: 8/27/19 in Senate
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 6/5/19
AYES: Allen, Hill, Skinner, Stern, Wieckowski
NOES: Bates, Stone
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 55-9, 5/9/19 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Solid waste: commercial and organic waste: recycling bins
SOURCE: Californians Against Waste
DIGEST:
This bill requires commercial waste generators and organic waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers, by July 1, 2020, with a commercial solid waste recycling bin or an organic waste recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises. This bill also requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to develop model signage that the businesses may utilize in implementing these requirements.
Senate Floor Amendments of 8/27/19 require that the recycling bin be adjacent to each bin or container for trash, except in restrooms, and exempt full-service restaurants from the bill’s requirements if the restaurant, by July 1, 2020, provides its employees with a bin to collect the material and implements a recycling program.
Existing law, the Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA):
- Establishes a state recycling goal of 75% of solid waste generated by diverting from landfill disposal by 2020 through source reduction, recycling, and composting (Public Resources Code (PRC) § 41780.01).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to divert 50% of solid waste from landfill disposal through source reduction, recycling, and composting (PRC §41780).
- Requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste from businesses (PRC §§42649.2, 42649.3).
- Requires generators of specified amounts of organic waste (food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material and requires local governments to implement organic waste recycling programs designed to divert organic waste from those businesses generating organic waste (PRC §§42649.81, 42649.82).
- Establishes methane emission reduction goals that include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste by 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Requires the CalRecycle, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to adopt regulations to achieve the organics reduction targets, which go into effect in 2022 (Health & Safety Code §39730.6, PRC §42652.5).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to prepare and adopt a source reduction and recycling element with primary emphasis on implementation of all feasible source reduction, recycling, and composting programs while identifying the amount of landfill and transformation capacity that will be needed for solid waste that cannot be reduced at the source, recycled, or composted. (PRC §§41000 et seq, 41300 et seq).
- Requires each jurisdiction to submit a report, as specified, to CalRecycle summarizing its progress in reducing solid waste (PRC §41821).
This bill:
- Requires commercial waste generators and organic waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers, by July 1, 2020, with a commercial solid waste recycling bin or an organic waste recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises.
- Requires the recycling bin to meet all of the following:
- Is adjacent to each trash bin or trash container, except in restrooms.
- Is visible and easily accessible.
- Is clearly marked with educational signage.
- Exempts full-service restaurants from these requirements if the restaurant, by July 1, 2020, provides its employees with a bin to collect the material and implements a recycling program.
- Requires CalRecycle to develop model signage that the businesses may utilize in implementing these requirements.
Background
Solid waste in California. For three decades, CalRecycle has been tasked with reducing disposal of municipal solid waste and promoting recycling in California through the IWMA. Under IWMA, the state has established a statewide 75 percent source reduction, recycling, and composting goal by 2020 and over the years the Legislature has enacted various laws relating to increasing the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills. According to CalRecycle’s State of Disposal and Recycling in California 2017 Update, 42.7 million tons of material were disposed into landfills in 2016.
Comments
- Purpose of this bill. According to the author, “California has set the ambitious goal of diverting 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025. In practical terms, this will mean that in 5 years Californians will have to learn how to properly sort their waste and understand what is and isn’t compostable. This is no easy task. Given how often we eat out of the home, restaurants are a great place to start. AB 827 is a win-win, it will reduce GHGs, and help Californians learn how to properly sort their waste, and allow all of us to make climate smart choices.”
- Ensuring statewide consistency. Although it is within each local jurisdiction’s discretion on how it wishes to implement its integrated waste management plan, and recyclability of specific materials varies between jurisdictions, it may serve the public to maintain some level of consistency between cities and counties. Consistency between businesses will help avoid consumer confusion and hopefully increase the amount of waste that is properly disposed of and diverted from landfills.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
Californians Against Waste (source)
Association of Compost Producers
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee/Integrated Waste Management Task Force
Recology
RecycleSmart
Republic Services, Inc.
RethinkWaste
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/27/19)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 55-9, 5/9/19
AYES: Aguiar-Curry, Bauer-Kahan, Berman, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Cooley, Daly, Diep, Eggman, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Levine, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Smith, Mark Stone, Ting, Waldron, Weber, Wicks, Wood, Rendon
NOES: Brough, Choi, Cunningham, Lackey, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel
NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Bigelow, Burke, Chen, Chu, Cooper, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Limón, Mayes, Ramos, Blanca Rubio
Prepared by: Genevieve M. Wong / E.Q. / (916) 651-4108
8/29/19 11:32:53
**** END ****
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB 827 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 827
Amended: 6/6/19 in Senate
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 6/5/19
AYES: Allen, Hill, Skinner, Stern, Wieckowski
NOES: Bates, Stone
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 55-9, 5/9/19 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Solid waste: commercial and organic waste: recycling bins
SOURCE: Californians Against Waste
DIGEST:
This bill requires commercial waste generators and organics waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with a recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked; and requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to develop model signage that a commercial waste generator may utilize in implementing these requirements.
Existing law, the Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA):
- Establishes a state recycling goal of 75% of solid waste generated by diverting from landfill disposal by 2020 through source reduction, recycling, and composting (Public Resources Code (PRC) § 41780.01).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to divert 50% of solid waste from landfill disposal through source reduction, recycling, and composting (PRC §41780).
- Requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste from businesses (PRC §§42649.2, 42649.3).
- Requires generators of specified amounts of organic waste (food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material and requires local governments to implement organic waste recycling programs designed to divert organic waste from those businesses generating organic waste (PRC §§42649.81, 42649.82).
- Establishes methane emission reduction goals that include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste by 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to adopt regualtions to achieve the organics reduction targets, which go into effect in 2022 (Health & Safety Code §39730.6, PRC §42652.5).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to prepare and adopt a source reduction and recycling element with primary emphasis on implementation of all feasible source reduction, recycling, and composting programs while identifying the amount of landfill and transformation capacity that will be needed for solid waste that cannot be reduced at the source, recycled, or composted. (PRC §§41000 et seq, 41300 et seq).
- Requires each jurisdiction to submit a report, as specified, to CalRecycle summarizing its progress in reducing solid waste (PRC §41821).
This bill:
- Requires commercial waste generators and organic waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with a recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked with educational signage indicating what is appropriate to place in the bin. Requires CalRecycle to develop model signage that a commercial waste generator or organics waste generator may use to implement these requirements.
- Excludes full-service restaurants.
Background
Solid waste in California. For three decades, CalRecycle has been tasked with reducing disposal of municipal solid waste and promoting recycling in California through the IWMA. Under IWMA, the state has established a statewide 75 percent source reduction, recycling, and composting goal by 2020 and over the years the Legislature has enacted various laws relating to increasing the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills. According to CalRecycle’s State of Disposal and Recycling in California 2017 Update, 42.7 million tons of material were disposed into landfills in 2016.
Comments
- Purpose of this bill. According to the author, “California has set the ambitious goal of diverting 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025. In practical terms, this will mean that in 5 years Californians will have to learn how to properly sort their waste and understand what is and isn’t compostable. This is no easy task. Given how often we eat out of the home, restaurants are a great place to start. AB 827 is a win-win, it will reduce GHGs, and help Californians learn how to properly sort their waste, and allow all of us to make climate smart choices.”
- Ensuring statewide consistency. Although it is within each local jurisdiction’s discretion on how it wishes to implement its integrated waste management plan, and recyclability of specific materials varies between jurisdictions, it may serve the public to maintain some level of consistency between cities and counties. Consistency between businesses will help avoid consumer confusion and hopefully increase the amount of waste that is properly disposed of and diverted from landfills.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
Californians Against Waste (source)
Association of Compost Producers
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee/Integrated Waste Management Task Force
Recology
RecycleSmart
Republic Services, Inc.
RethinkWaste
OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/24/19)
California Restaurant Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to this bill’s sponsor, Californians Against Waste, “California’s tapestry of newly-enacted recycling laws will expand recycling and composting statewide, and, if successful, are projected to create over a hundred thousand new jobs in the state. However, this all hinges on convenience and consistent access to recycling where people live, work, and play. Consumers should come to expect that an aluminum can goes into a recycling bin and a banana peel goes into a compost bin anywhere they go. These practices becoming second nature is crucial to reducing contamination and maximizing participation.
“Additionally, California’s recycling industry faces an existential crisis because of the loss of many overseas markets for recyclables. The days of shipping mixed materials overseas for sorting are numbered, and the ongoing viability of the recycling industry will rely on the production of cleaner feedstocks with fewer contaminants. The clear and consistent consumer-facing signage proposed in this bill is an important part of keeping our recyclable clean (and ultimately valuable).”
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: According to the California Restaurant Association, “We are concerned with our members ability to comply with AB 827 given the space limitations restaurants have. Restaurants have a limited amount of physical space and extremely little, if any, is not already being utilized in the kitchen or for customer dining. There would be a cost impact, possible construction needs, and logistical hurdles upon our members to redesign their individual waste receptacle systems to comply with AB 827.”
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 55-9, 5/9/19
AYES: Aguiar-Curry, Bauer-Kahan, Berman, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Cooley, Daly, Diep, Eggman, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Levine, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Smith, Mark Stone, Ting, Waldron, Weber, Wicks, Wood, Rendon
NOES: Brough, Choi, Cunningham, Lackey, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel
NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Bigelow, Burke, Chen, Chu, Cooper, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Limón, Mayes, Ramos, Blanca Rubio
Prepared by: Genevieve M. Wong / E.Q. / (916) 651-4108
6/26/19 15:46:58
**** END ****
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB 827 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 827
Amended: 6/6/19 in Senate
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 6/5/19
AYES: Allen, Hill, Skinner, Stern, Wieckowski
NOES: Bates, Stone
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 55-9, 5/9/19 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Solid waste: commercial and organic waste: recycling bins
SOURCE: Californians Against Waste
DIGEST:
This bill requires commercial waste generators and organics waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with a recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked; and requires CalRecycle to develop model signage that a commercial waste generator may utilize in implementing these requirements.
Existing law, the Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA):
- Establishes a state recycling goal of 75% of solid waste generated by diverting from landfill disposal by 2020 through source reduction, recycling, and composting (Public Resources Code (PRC) § 41780.01).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to divert 50% of solid waste from landfill disposal through source reduction, recycling, and composting (PRC §41780).
- Requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste from businesses (PRC §§42649.2, 42649.3).
- Requires generators of specified amounts of organic waste (food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material and requires local governments to implement organic waste recycling programs designed to divert organic waste from those businesses generating organic waste (PRC §§42649.81, 42649.82).
- Establishes methane emission reduction goals that include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste by 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to adopt regualtions to achieve the organics reduction targets, which go into effect in 2022 (Health & Safety Code §39730.6, PRC §42652.5).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to prepare and adopt a source reduction and recycling element with primary emphasis on implementation of all feasible source reduction, recycling, and composting programs while identifying the amount of landfill and transformation capacity that will be needed for solid waste that cannot be reduced at the source, recycled, or composted. (PRC §§41000 et seq, 41300 et seq).
- Requires each jurisdiction to submit a report, as specified, to CalRecycle summarizing its progress in reducing solid waste (PRC §41821).
This bill:
- Requires commercial waste generators and organic waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with a recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked with educational signage indicating what is appropriate to place in the bin. Requires CalRecycle to develop model signage that a commercial waste generator or organics waste generator may use to implement these requirements.
- Excludes full-service restaurants.
Background
Solid waste in California. For three decades, CalRecycle has been tasked with reducing disposal of municipal solid waste and promoting recycling in California through the IWMA. Under IWMA, the state has established a statewide 75 percent source reduction, recycling, and composting goal by 2020 and over the years the Legislature has enacted various laws relating to increasing the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills. According to CalRecycle’s State of Disposal and Recycling in California 2017 Update, 42.7 million tons of material were disposed into landfills in 2016.
Comments
- Purpose of this bill. According to the author, “California has set the ambitious goal of diverting 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025. In practical terms, this will mean that in 5 years Californians will have to learn how to properly sort their waste and understand what is and isn’t compostable. This is no easy task. Given how often we eat out of the home, restaurants are a great place to start. AB 827 is a win-win, it will reduce GHGs, and help Californians learn how to properly sort their waste, and allow all of us to make climate smart choices.”
- Ensuring statewide consistency. Although it is within each local jurisdiction’s discretion on how it wishes to implement its integrated waste management plan, and recyclability of specific materials varies between jurisdictions, it may serve the public to maintain some level of consistency between cities and counties. Consistency between businesses will help avoid consumer confusion and hopefully increase the amount of waste that is properly disposed of and diverted from landfills.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
Californians Against Waste (source)
Association of Compost Producers
Recology
RecycleSmart
Republic Services, Inc.
RethinkWaste
California Restaurant Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the bill’s sponsor, Californians Against Waste, “California’s tapestry of newly-enacted recycling laws will expand recycling and composting statewide, and, if successful, are projected to create over a hundred thousand new jobs in the state. However, this all hinges on convenience and consistent access to recycling where people live, work, and play. Consumers should come to expect that an aluminum can goes into a recycling bin and a banana peel goes into a compost bin anywhere they go. These practices becoming second nature is crucial to reducing contamination and maximizing participation.
“Additionally, California’s recycling industry faces an existential crisis because of the loss of many overseas markets for recyclables. The days of shipping mixed materials overseas for sorting are numbered, and the ongoing viability of the recycling industry will rely on the production of cleaner feedstocks with fewer contaminants. The clear and consistent consumer-facing signage proposed in this bill is an important part of keeping our recyclable clean (and ultimately valuable).”
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: According to the California Restaurant Association, “We are concerned with our members ability to comply with AB 827 given the space limitations restaurants have. Restaurants have a limited amount of physical space and extremely little, if any, is not already being utilized in the kitchen or for customer dining. There would be a cost impact, possible construction needs, and logistical hurdles upon our members to redesign their individual waste receptacle systems to comply with AB 827.”
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 55-9, 5/9/19
AYES: Aguiar-Curry, Bauer-Kahan, Berman, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Cooley, Daly, Diep, Eggman, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Levine, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Smith, Mark Stone, Ting, Waldron, Weber, Wicks, Wood, Rendon
NOES: Brough, Choi, Cunningham, Lackey, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel
NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Bigelow, Burke, Chen, Chu, Cooper, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Limón, Mayes, Ramos, Blanca Rubio
Prepared by: Genevieve M. Wong / E.Q. / (916) 651-4108
6/7/19 12:44:32
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Senator Allen, Chair
2019 - 2020 Regular
Bill No: AB 827
Author: | McCarty | ||
Version: | 5/23/2019 | Hearing Date: | 6/5/2019 |
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | No |
Consultant: | Genevieve M. Wong | ||
SUBJECT: Solid waste: commercial and organic waste: recycling bins
DIGEST: Requires commercial waste generators and organics waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with a recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law, the Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA):
- Establishes a state recycling goal of 75% of solid waste generated by diverting from landfill disposal by 2020 through source reduction, recycling, and composting (Public Resources Code (PRC) § 41780.01).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to divert 50% of solid waste from landfill disposal through source reduction, recycling, and composting (PRC §41780).
- Requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste from businesses (PRC §§42649.2, 42649.3).
- Requires generators of specified amounts of organic waste (food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material and requires local governments to implement organic waste recycling programs designed to divert organic waste from those businesses generating organic waste (PRC §§42649.81, 42649.82).
- Establishes methane emission reduction goals that include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste by 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), in consultation with the Air Resources Board (ARB), to adopt regualtions to achieve the organics reduction targets, which go into effect in 2022 (Health & Safety Code §39730.6, PRC §42652.5).
- Requires each local jurisdiction to prepare and adopt a source reduction and recycling element (SRRE) with primary emphasis on implementation of all feasible source reduction, recycling, and composting programs while identifying the amount of landfill and transformation capacity that will be needed for solid waste that cannot be reduced at the source, recycled, or composted. (PRC §§41000 et seq, 41300 et seq).
- Requires each jurisdiction to submit a report, as specified, to CalRecycle summarizing its progress in reducing solid waste (PRC §41821).
This bill:
- Requires commercial waste generators and organics waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with a recycling bin to collect materials purchased on the premises that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked with educational signage indicating what is appropriate to place in the bin.
- Excludes full-service restaurants.
Background
- Solid waste in California. For three decades, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has been tasked with reducing disposal of municipal solid waste and promoting recycling in California through the IWMA. Under IWMA, the state has established a statewide 75 percent source reduction, recycling, and composting goal by 2020 and over the years the Legislature has enacted various laws relating to increasing the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills (see Related/Prior legislation below). According to CalRecycle’s State of Disposal and Recycling in California 2017 Update, 42.7 million tons of material were disposed into landfills in 2016.
Comments
- Purpose of Bill. According to the author,
“California has set the ambitious goal of diverting 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025. In practical terms, this will mean that in 5 years Californians will have to learn how to properly sort their waste and understand what is and isn’t compostable. This is no easy task. Given how often we eat out of the home, restaurants are a great place to start. AB 827 is a win-win, it will reduce GHGs, and help Californians learn how to properly sort their waste, and allow all of us to make climate smart choices.”
- Ensuring statewide consistency. Although it is within each local jurisdiction’s discretion on how it wishes to implement its integrated waste management plan, and recyclability of specific materials varies between jurisdictions, it may serve the public to maintain some level of consistency between cities and counties. Consistency between businesses will help avoid consumer confusion and hopefully increase the amount of waste that is properly disposed of and diverted from landfills.
The committee may wish to amend the bill to require CalRecycle to develop, by January 1, 2021, recycling bin and educational signage guidelines that a commercial waste generator or organics waste generator may choose to utilize in implementing the requirements of the bill.
Related/Prior Legislation
AB 901 (Gordon, Chapter 746, Statutes of 2016) updates recycling and composting reporting requirements and streamlines diversion and disposal reporting requirements.
SB 1383 (Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) established targets to achieve a 50% reduction in statewide disposal of organic waste by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025. SB 1383 also requires CalRecycle to adopt regulations to achieve those organic waste targets and to recover no less than 20% of currently disposed edible food for human consumption by 2025.
AB 1826 (Chesbro, Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014) requires businesses and multi- family residences to recycle their organic waste and requires local jurisdictions to implement organic waste recycling programs to divert organic material away from landfills.
AB 341 (Chesbro, Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011) established the statewide 75% recycling goal by 2020, requires local jurisdictions to implement commercial recycling programs to divert recyclable material away from landfills and requires commercial generators and multi-family residences to arrange for recycling services.
SOURCE:
Californians Against Waste
SUPPORT:
Californians Against Waste (sponsor)
Association of Compost Producers
Recology
RecycleSmart
Republic Services, Inc.
OPPOSITION:
California Restaurant Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:
According to the bill’s sponsor, Californians Against Waste,
California’s tapestry of newly-enacted recycling laws will expand recycling and composting statewide, and, if successful, are projected to create over a hundred thousand new jobs in the state. However, this all hinges on convenience and consistent access to recycling where people live, work, and play. Consumers should come to expect that an aluminum can goes into a recycling bin and a banana peel goes into a compost bin anywhere they go. These practices becoming second nature is crucial to reducing contamination and maximizing participation.
“Additionally, California’s recycling industry faces an existential crisis because of the loss of many overseas markets for recyclables. The days of shipping mixed materials overseas for sorting are numbered, and the ongoing viability of the recycling industry will rely on the production of cleaner feedstocks with fewer contaminants. The clear and consistent consumer-facing signage proposed in this bill is an important part of keeping our recyclable clean (and ultimately valuable).
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION:
According to the California Restaurant Association,
“We are concerned with our members ability to comply with AB 827 given the space limitations restaurants have. Restaurants have a limited amount of physical space and extremely little, if any, is not already being utilized in the kitchen or for customer dining. There would be a cost impact, possible construction needs, and logistical hurdles upon our members to redesign their individual waste receptacle systems to comply with AB 827.”
-- END --
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 827
Author:(McCarty)
As Amended Ver:April 2, 2019
Majority vote
SUMMARY:
Requires commercial waste generators and organics waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with the appropriate recycling bins that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked.
COMMENTS:
An estimated 35 million tons of waste are disposed of in California's landfills annually. CalRecycle is tasked with diverting at least 75% of solid waste from landfills statewide by 2020. Local governments have been required to divert 50% of the waste generated within the jurisdiction from landfill disposal since 2000. AB 341 (Chesbro), Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011, requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services for the material they generate and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste generated by businesses out of the landfill. A follow up bill, AB 1826 (Chesbro), Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014, requires generators of organic waste (i.e., food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material to keep the material out of the landfill.
SB 1383 (Lara) Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016 required the California Air Resources Control Board (ARB) to approve and implement the comprehensive short-lived climate pollutant strategy to achieve, from 2013 levels, a 40% reduction in methane, a 40% reduction in hydrofluorocarbon gases, and a 50% reduction in anthropogenic black carbon, by 2030. In order to accomplish these goals, the bill specified that the methane emission reduction goals include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level.
This bill is intended to educate and involve consumers in achieving the state's recycling goals by requiring businesses to make recycling bins available to consumers with clear labels to indicate what materials are appropriate for each bin.
According to the Author:
California is a leader in waste reduction and recycling. The state's current policies are seen as models for other states and produce the highest recycling rates in the country. There are also very ambitious goals for the future set by previous legislation like SB 1383 by Senator Lara and AB 1826 by Assembly Member Chesbro. Those bills set a goal of a 75% diversion of organic waste from landfills and require that restaurants separate their waste into landfill, recycling, and organics.
Composting is the most cost effective and efficient method for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHGs). A recent LAO study on California's climate investments, found that one ton of GHGs was reduced for every $4 spent on organics loans and $10 spent on organics grants. Compared to the average of $57 per ton of GHG abatement, organics programs are the most cost effective way to reduce climate change causing pollutants. Also, composting is a job creator, on a per ton basis; a compost facility employs twice as many workers than a landfill.
However, in order to achieve these benefits and meet our goals Californians will have to significantly change their behavior. One of the biggest changes in behavior will require that both at home and out in their community they will need to separate out waste into separate streams to make sure it doesn't all end up in a landfill. It will also require that consumers need to make climate smart choices and know what is and isn't compostable. This is much easier said than done, as what is compostable versus what goes to the landfill is often unclear and can change depending on where you are discarding the waste. Just like in the 1970's, when consumers needed to be education on what goes in the recycling bin, consumers will need education and repetition before they can really change their behavior. Restaurants with multiple bins and clear signage offer an opportunity for both and will reduce GHGs in the process.
Arguments in Support:
Supporters of this bill state that in order to reach the state's recycling goals and mandates, we need to establish practices like those established by the bill to build a foundation of education, behavior, and action at the beginning of the process to help alleviate the waste created and sent to landfills.
Arguments in Opposition:
Opponents of this bill voice concern regarding restaurants' ability to comply given the space limitations restaurants have.
FISCAL COMMENTS:
None
VOTES:
ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 8-0-3
YES: Friedman, Chau, Eggman, Cristina Garcia, Limón, McCarty, Muratsuchi, Mark Stone
ABS, ABST OR NV: Flora, Mathis, Melendez
UPDATED:
VERSION: April 2, 2019
CONSULTANT: Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0000297
Date of Hearing: March 25, 2019
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Laura Friedman, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 827 (
Author:McCarty) – As Introduced Ver:February 20, 2019
SUBJECT: Solid waste: commercial and organic waste: recycling bins
SUMMARY: Requires commercial waste generators and organics waste generators that provide customers access to the business to provide customers with the appropriate recycling bins that are visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked.
EXISTING LAW, pursuant to the Integrated Waste Management Act:
- Establishes a state recycling goal of 75% of solid waste generated be diverted from landfill disposal by 2020 through source reduction, recycling, and composting.
- Requires each local jurisdiction to divert 50% of solid waste from landfill disposal through source reduction, recycling, and composting.
- Requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste from businesses.
- Requires generators of specified amounts of organic waste (i.e., food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material.
- Establishes methane emission reduction goals that include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to adopt regulations to achieve the organics reduction targets, which go into effect in 2022.
FISCAL EFFECT: Non-fiscal
COMMENTS:
- Author’s statement:
California is a leader in waste reduction and recycling. The state’s current policies are seen as models for other states and produce the highest recycling rates in the country. There are also very ambitious goals for the future set by previous legislation like SB 1383 by Senator Lara and AB 1826 by Assemblymember Chesbro. Those bills set a goal of a 75% diversion of organic waste from landfills and require that restaurants separate their waste into landfill, recycling, and organics.
Composting is the most cost effective and efficient method for reducing GHGs. A recent LAO study on California’s climate investments, found that 1 ton of GHGs was reduced for every $4 spent on organics loans and $10 spent on organics grants. Compared to the average of $57 per ton of GHG abatement, organics programs are the most cost effective way to reduce climate change causing pollutants. Also, composting is a job creator, on a per ton basis; a compost facility employs twice as many workers than a landfill.
However, in order to achieve these benefits and meet our goals Californians will have to significantly change their behavior. One of the biggest changes in behavior will require that both at home and out in their community they will need to separate out waste into separate streams to make sure it doesn’t all end up in a landfill. It will also require that consumers need to make climate smart choices and know what is and isn’t compostable. This is much easier said than done, as what is compostable versus what goes to the landfill is often unclear and can change depending on where you are discarding the waste. Just like in the 1970’s, when consumers needed to be education on what goes in the recycling bin, consumers will need education and repetition before they can really change their behavior. Restaurants with multiple bins and clear signage offer an opportunity for both and will reduce GHGs in the process.
- Meeting the state’s recycling goals. An estimated 35 million tons of waste are disposed of in California’s landfills annually. CalRecycle is tasked with diverting at least 75% of solid waste from landfills statewide by 2020. Local governments have been required to divert 50% of the waste generated within the jurisdiction from landfill disposal since 2000. AB 341 (Chesbro), Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011, requires commercial waste generators, including multi-family dwellings, to arrange for recycling services for the material they generate and requires local governments to implement commercial solid waste recycling programs designed to divert solid waste generated by businesses out of the landfill. A follow up bill, AB 1826 (Chesbro), Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014, requires generators of organic waste (i.e., food waste and yard waste) to arrange for recycling services for that material to keep the material out of the landfill.
SB 1383 (Lara) Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016 required the ARB to approve and implement the comprehensive short-lived climate pollutant strategy to achieve, from 2013 levels, a 40% reduction in methane, a 40% reduction in hydrofluorocarbon gases, and a 50% reduction in anthropogenic black carbon, by 2030. In order to accomplish these goals, the bill specified that the methane emission reduction goals include targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organic waste 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025 from the 2014 level.
This bill is intended to educate and involve consumers in achieving the state’s recycling goals by requiring businesses to make recycling bins available to consumers with clear labels to indicate what materials are appropriate for each bin.
- Suggested amendments. The committee may wish to make minor and technical amendments to clarify the bill’s language.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Californians Against Waste
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. /
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):