BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 254
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Date of Hearing: August 30, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 254 (Hancock) - As Amended: August 26, 2013
Policy Committee: Natural
ResourcesVote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a statewide mattress recycling program to
be developed, implemented, and administered by a mattress
recycling organization comprised of manufacturers, retailers,
and renovators as approved by CalRecyle. Specifically, this
bill requires CalRecycle to:
1)Certify the mattress recycling organization as specified.
2)Appoint an advisory committee to the recycling organization.
3)Establish recycling goals and specified program enforcement.
FISCAL EFFECT
One-time costs of $750,000 (special fund) for CalRecycle to
adopt regulations, implement, monitor, and enforce the program.
Ongoing operational costs of $500,000.
All costs, including start-up costs, are required to be
reimbursed from the proceeds of the mattress recycling charge.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. According to the author, the problem of illegally
dumped mattresses has become critical, especially in parts of
the state that have been hardest hit by the recent recession.
The accumulation of these used mattresses in public spaces
poses a public health problem as used mattresses can be a
breeding ground for mold and pests.
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This bill encourages recycling by creating a producer-managed
recycling program, including an advance recovery fee to be
paid by the consumer at the point of sale.
2)Background. According to the Product Stewardship Institute,
approximately 40 million mattresses and box springs are sold
in the United States each year for use in residential and
institutional settings. It is estimated that over four
million mattresses and box springs were sold in California in
2010.
According to a recent case study prepared by UC Santa Barbara
for CalRecycle, it is estimated that around 4.2 million
mattresses and box springs reach the end of their lives in
California every year. Whether they are recycled or disposed,
used mattresses represent a significant cost to manage.
Analysis by the Product Stewardship Institute indicates that
many local governments are paying a per mattress disposal fee
ranging from $9 to $30.
3)Recycling Mattresses. The recycling process for mattresses
and box springs consists of manually removing each layer of
material. As a result, only a small percentage of mattresses
and box springs are dismantled and recycled.
According to St. Vincent DePaul-DR3 Recycling, there are
currently five used mattresses recycling companies in
California. Up to 80-90% of a mattress can be recycled by
breaking it down into the different components. Steel and
polyurethane foam are most valuable materials with
well-established markets, while cotton and wood materials can
also be captured and re-sold. While some mattress components
have value, including steel springs and polyurethane foam,
there is still a net cost for collection and recycling which
discourages large-scale recycling.
4)Proposed Amendments. The author has proposed a series of
amendments to address local government concerns regarding
stranded costs, to address potential impact the program may
have on Proposition 26 requirements for rate increases to be
approved by the voters, and to address technical concerns.
Specifically, the author is proposing amendments to:
a) Require the nonprofit to address any potential
Proposition 26 impacts in the plan submitted to CalRecycle
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for approval.
b) Clarify the definition of solid waste facility is for
the purpose of this program only.
c) Delete plan requirements that conflict with other parts
of the bill.
CalRecycle is seeking additional amendments that would
authorize the Department to develop emergency regulations in
order to meet the initial requirements of the bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081