BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 921
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 4, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Cathleen Galgiani, Chair
AB 921 (Allen) - As Amended: April 25, 2011
SUBJECT : Agriculture water use efficiency: compost
applications.
SUMMARY : This bill requires the California Department of Food
and Agriculture (CDFA), in conjunction with the California
Department of Water Resources (DWR), to quantify water use
efficiency in relation to use of compost in agriculture (Ag).
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires CDFA, in conjunction with DWR, to measure and monitor
increases in Ag water efficiencies resulting from the use of
compost.
2)Requires CDFA to oversee a study or studies, through existing
programs and conducted by the University of California
Extension Service (Extension), in partnership with local water
districts, farmers, growers, and compost producers.
a) Requires the Extension's studies to measure increases in
Ag water use efficiency through the use of compost and
other potential benefits from using compost, as it relates
to climate change.
EXISTING LAW allows the Department of Resources Recycling and
Recovery to develop programs to increase the use of compost
products in agricultural applications. ÝPublic Resource Code
(PRC) section 42241.5]
Defines compost as a product resulting from the controlled
biological decomposition of organic wastes that are source
separated from the municipal solid waste stream, or which are
separated at a centralized facility. "Compost" includes
vegetable, yard, and wood wastes which are not hazardous waste.
ÝPRC section 40116]
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill has been keyed fiscal by Legislative
counsel.
COMMENTS : According to the author, while there have been
AB 921
Page 2
studies to measure effects of compost in Ag settings, these
studies have been limited and may have underestimated the
potential benefits of compost relative to water use efficiency.
The author states that additional field studies will provide a
better analysis of compost use in reducing water needs in Ag and
any benefits related to climate change. This bill addresses the
desire for a more comprehensive examination of the use of
compost, as it relates to water conservation, by authorizing
CDFA to oversee studies on this issue.
According to the sponsor, this bill will identify the water
reduction benefits derived from compost use in Ag and help build
compost markets. Supporters point out that the diversion of
organic waste from landfills and increased Ag use of compost has
been identified as crucial greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
Supporters state that the types of field studies this bill
requires will better reflect the real world of compost in Ag
settings.
The Climate Change Scoping Plan (scoping plan), developed by the
California Air Resources Board in response to AB 32 (Nunez),
Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006, proposes a set of actions
designed to reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in
California. Part of the scoping plan includes reducing methane
emissions at landfills, by increasing waste diversion,
composting and other beneficial uses of organic materials, and
mandate commercial recycling. The studies proposed by this bill
may help fulfill a portion of the scoping plans goals.
Many studies have shown compost to aid in water conservation,
moisture retention in soil and mitigating some water runoff,
especially in the area of erosion control. Other studies have
demonstrated that composting reduces GHG emissions from organics
due to the diversion of organics materials from landfills.
Currently, studies taking place in California examine the effect
of compost on GHG emissions in specific Ag commodities.
The committee may wish to consider, given the amount of
research, past and current, on the issue of compost and water
conservation, if CDFA's and DWR's resources would be better used
by reviewing of current scientific studies in order to evaluate
the benefits of compost and how this data may be applied to
current Ag practices.
The committee may wish to consider, given the sponsor's
AB 921
Page 3
statement that this bill "will help build compost markets,"
along with the bill's other benefits, if it is appropriate
public policy for the state to sponsor studies that help a
specific industry.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Compost Coalition (Sponsor)
California Refuse Recycling Council
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)
319-2084