BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 900 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 27, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 900 (Swanson) - As Amended: May 10, 2011 Policy Committee: Education Vote:7-3 Natural Resources 6-1 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill authorizes a school district to provide recycling and composting bins on each elementary and secondary school campus. Specifically, this bill: Authorizes a school district to determine the number of bins to be located on a campus on the basis of the size of both the pupil population and the surface area of that campus. FISCAL EFFECT GF/98 cost pressure, likely between $150,000 and $300,000, to school districts to have beverage recycling and compositing bins on schoolsites, as specified. These costs will likely increase depending on the number of bins each schoolsite needs. There are 9,878 schoolsites in the state. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . In 2003, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWB) conducted a survey of school districts to assess their level of efforts in implementing waste reduction programs. Forty-two percent of school districts responded to the survey, representing 55% of all schools. The survey found that "92% of districts appear to be participating in some level of recycling programs. Of the districts that reported participating in recycling activities, the most commonly recycled materials include: aluminum cans, white paper, and AB 900 Page 2 cardboard. Based upon survey results, implementation of a formalized district-wide recycling program appears to relate to school district size. A greater percentage of larger school districts reported having the district coordinate district-wide recycling activities as well as having a service contract for collection of recyclables than reported by smaller districts." According to the author, the bill is the result of his "There Ought to Be A Law" contest submission by a student from Piedmont High School. Specifically, the author contends that making recycling and composting bins available at public elementary and secondary schools will allow the state "to benefit from the reused materials and our planet's over extended landfills will not be further compromised." 2)Current law encourages school districts to maintain a paper recycling program in all classrooms, administrative offices, and other school district property. School districts are also encouraged to purchase recycled paper and eliminate the purchase of paper and paper products that could be potential contaminants of the district's recycling program. Pursuant to statutory requirements, the CIWMB maintains on its Internet website information on school waste reduction and provides suggestions to school districts on how they can initiate a wide range of waste reduction and recycling efforts, including environmentally friendly purchasing policies, paper reduction, food disposal, textbook recycling, beverage container recycling, and green school facilities. In 2000, the CIWMB approved the release of a request for proposals to solicit partnership projects with local jurisdictions and/or school districts designed to divert food scraps generated at high-volume sites. The CIWMB made several awards with no individual project funded in excess of $50,000. According to CalRecycle (formerly CIWMB), the Davis Joint Unified School District received an award and piloted comprehensive food waste diversion projects at three elementary schools. Two schools reduced their total waste stream by at least 40%. The third school has the potential to decrease its waste stream by 20% if the program continues. The AB 900 Page 3 programs included: recycling and the collection of organic waste for on-site composting and vermicomposting systems. The contract accomplished the goals of integrating the composting and vermicomposting systems into the school garden program, as part of a larger farm-to-school vision. 3)Previous legislation . AB 747 (Emmerson) authorized and encouraged school districts and each campus of the University of California, California State University, and the California Community Colleges (CCC) to establish and maintain a beverage container recycling program in all classrooms, administrative offices, and other areas owned or leased by the school district or campuses where a significant quantity of beverage containers is generated or may be collected. This bill was held in the Senate Rules Committee in May 2009. Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916) 319-2081