California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 105


Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk

September 1, 2015


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 105—Relative to No Waste November.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 105, as introduced, Quirk. No Waste November.

This measure would designate the month of November 2015 as No Waste November, an education and outreach period for the promotion of a zero waste lifestyle.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, Americans recycled and composted almost 87
2million tons of the approximately 251 million tons of trash
3generated in 2012, equivalent to a 34.5 percent recycling rate; and

4WHEREAS, In 2012, each American, on average, recycled and
5composted 1.51 of the 4.38 pounds of waste generated per person
6per day; and

7WHEREAS, Americans recycled and composted about 72
8million more tons of material in 2012 than in 1980, preventing the
9release of approximately 168 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
10equivalent emissions into the air, comparable to taking over 33
11million cars off the road for a year; and

12WHEREAS, The California Integrated Waste Management Act
13of 1989 requires cities and counties to reduce, reuse, recycle, and
14compost all discarded materials to the maximum extent feasible
P2    1before any landfilling or other destructive disposal method is used;
2and

3WHEREAS, The California Integrated Waste Management Act
4of 1989 mandates that all California jurisdictions achieve a 50
5percent diversion rate by 2000, and sets a state policy goal of a 75
6percent diversion rate by 2020; and

7WHEREAS, About one-half of the waste generated in California
8is source reduced, recycled, or composted, but California still
9disposes of about 37 million tons of waste in landfills and through
10other disposal methods; and

11WHEREAS, A zero waste lifestyle goes beyond just recycling
12and takes a system-wide approach that involves maximizing
13recycling, minimizing waste, reducing consumption, and ensuring
14products are made to be reused, repaired, or recycled back into
15nature or the marketplace; and

16WHEREAS, No Waste November is a month-long education
17and outreach period for the promotion of a zero waste lifestyle that
18will cover topics such as water waste, organic waste, energy waste,
19recycling, and the reuse of products; and

20WHEREAS, No Waste November will involve businesses, local
21governments, and communities and will educate adults and children
22in a variety of locations, including, but not limited to, homes, places
23of work, schools, parks, and neighborhoods; and

24WHEREAS, The lessons learned during No Waste November
25are intended to form the basis of a long-lasting education that
26Californians will continue to use in their everyday lives after the
27month ends; now, therefore, be it

28Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
29thereof concurring,
That the Legislature of the State of California
30hereby proclaims the month of November 2015 as No Waste
31November; and be it further

32Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
33of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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