BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1359
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SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1359 (Simitian)
As Introduced February 24, 2012
Urgency. 2/3 vote
SENATE VOTE :38-0
NATURAL RESOURCES 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Knight, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, |
| |Brownley, Dickinson, | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| |Grove, Huffman, Monning, | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| |Skinner | |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, |
| | | |Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Solorio, Wagner |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Deletes the definition of compost in the Compost
Market Program (Program) and replaces it with a reference to the
definition of compost used in the Integrated Waste Management
Act (Act).
EXISTING LAW :
1)Under the Program:
a) Requires the Department of General Services (DGS) and
the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
(CalRecycle) in consultation with other state agencies to
maintain specifications for the purchase of compost.
b) Requires CalRecycle, 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.
c) For the purposes of the Program, defines "compost" as
the product resulting from the controlled biological
decomposition of organic wastes that are source separated
from the municipal solid waste stream.
SB 1359
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2)Under the Act, "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 that are not
hazardous waste.
3)Under the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign, "compost" means
a product that meets the following requirements:
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 sources of organic
materials.
b) It is produced by a public or private supplier that is
in compliance with CalRecycle composting operations
regulatory requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this bill has no state costs.
COMMENTS : According to CalRecycle, in 2010 approximately nine
million tons of organic material was processed by over 200
facilities into compost and other products. The infrastructure
has grown significantly over the last 20 years, "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."
This bill makes the definition of compost consistent between the
Program and the Act. According to the author, "by referencing
the definition that applies to the rest of the ÝAct], SB 1359
simplifies the definition of compost for regulatory and market
development programs."
This bill contains an urgency clause, which states "due to the
need to encourage the use of composting, thereby protecting the
public health and safety and the environment, it is necessary
that this act take effect immediately."
SB 1359
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Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0005508