BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1359 SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Senator S. Joseph Simitian, Chairman 2011-2012 Regular Session BILL NO: SB 1359 AUTHOR: Simitian AMENDED: As Introduced FISCAL: Yes HEARING DATE: April 16, 2012 URGENCY: Yes CONSULTANT: Peter Cowan SUBJECT : SOLID WASTE: COMPOST SUMMARY : Existing law : 1) Under the Compost Market Program (CMP): a) Requires the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (DRRR) in consultation with other state agencies to maintain specifications for the purchase of compost. (Public Resources Code §42240). b) Requires DRRR, DGS, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Department of Parks and Recreation to initiate specified programs that use compost. (§42243). c) For the purposes of CMP, defines "compost" as the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic wastes that are sources separated from the municipal solid waste stream. (§42231). 2) Under the Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA) "compost" is defined as the 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. (§40116). 3) Under the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign "compost" means SB 1359 Page 2 a product that meets the following requirements (Public Contract Code §12207): a) It results from the controlled biological decomposition of organic materials, including, but not limited to, yard trimmings and wood byproducts that are separated from the municipal solid waste stream at the source of generation or at a centralized facility, or other source of organic materials. b) It is produced by a public or private supplier that is in compliance with DRRR composting operations regulatory requirements. This bill : Deletes the definition of "compost" under the CMP and instead references the definition under the IWMA. COMMENTS : 1) Purpose of Bill . According to the author, SB 1359 makes a technical change clarifying that the definition of compost under the IWMA also applies to the Compost Market Program. 2) Background . According to the DRRR 2011 Annual Report: "In 2010, more than 200 facilities processed approximately 9 million tons of organic material, including food and vegetative material, into compost and other products. This infrastructure has grown significantly since the early 1990s, aided in part by CalRecycle demonstration projects, research studies, funding, education and promotion, standards development, siting and capacity development, CalRecycle regulations, and coordination with other agencies on their regulations." SOURCE : Senator Simitian SUPPORT : None on file OPPOSITION : None on file SB 1359 Page 3