BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 2812 (Gordon) - Solid waste: recycling: state agencies and large state facilities ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: May 27, 2016 |Policy Vote: E.Q. 7 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: August 1, 2016 |Consultant: Narisha Bonakdar | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: AB 2812 requires Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), on or before July 1, 2017, to develop guidelines for adequate receptacles and staffing for collecting and recycling recyclable materials in state office buildings. The bill also requires state agencies, on or after July 1, 2018, to provide and maintain recycling receptacles in state buildings and large facilities based on standards adopted by CalRecycle. Fiscal Impact: 1)Increased administrative costs of approximately $145,000 per year for 2 years for CalRecyle to gather information, adopt requirements, conduct outreach and update the electronic annual report to reflect new reporting requirements. Ongoing absorbable costs for monitoring. 2)Unknown, potentially significant state costs to provide receptacles, staff, and establish a collection schedule at AB 2812 (Gordon) Page 1 of ? each state agency and facility. 3)Unknown, likely minor, state costs to incorporate the new requirement into the existing report to CalRecycle. Background: The Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989. The Integrated Waste Management Act (Act) of 1989 establishes a statewide diversion goal of 75% by 2020. The Act also requires state agencies to develop an integrated waste management plan indicating how the state agency or facility will divert 50% of its waste from landfill disposal and to submit an annual report to CalRecycle summarizing its progress in reducing solid waste. Local agencies are similarly required to divert, through source reduction, recycling, and composting, 50% of solid waste disposed by their jurisdictions. Local agencies must also submit a countywide siting element to CalRecycle that includes specified information regarding the transformation and disposal of solid waste. Statewide waste diversion goals. CalRecycle is tasked with diverting at least 75% of solid waste statewide by 2020. Currently, an estimated 35 million tons of waste are disposed of in California's landfills annually, of which 32% is compostable organic materials, 29% is construction and demolition debris, and 17% is paper. In addition, CalRecycle is charged with implementing Strategic Directive 6.1, which calls for the reduction of organic waste disposal by 50% by 2020. Proposed Law: This bill: 4)Requires, CalRecycle, on or before July 1, 2017, to develop guidelines for collecting and recycling recyclable materials in office buildings of state agencies and large state facilities. 5)Defines "recyclable materials" as, including, but not limited to, paper, plastic, metal, and organic waste. AB 2812 (Gordon) Page 2 of ? 6)Requires a state agency and large state facility, on and after July 1, 2018, to provide adequate receptacles, signage, education, and staffing, and arrange for recycling services for each office building or large state facility. 7)Requires each state agency and large facility, at least once per year, to review the adequacy and condition of receptacles for recyclable material and of associated signage, education, and staffing. 8)Specifies that a "state agency" and "large state facility" does not include buildings or facilities of community college districts or their campuses. 9)Requires each state agency to include a summary of the state agency's compliance with the requirements in the bill in its current annual report to CalRecycle. Staff Comments: Purpose of Bill. According to the author, "The Integrated Waste Management Act requires that local governments divert at least 50% of solid waste from landfill disposal and establishes a statewide policy goal that 75% of solid waste generated be source-reduced, recycled, or composted by the year 2020. According to CalRecycle, in order to achieve the state's policy goal, an additional 23 million tons will need to be recycled, reduced, or composted." "AB 2812 would direct CalRecycle to develop requirements to ensure recycling containers are made available to employees of the state. By ensuring that state employees have adequate opportunity to recycle their solid waste in the workplace, the state will lead by example, and play a major role in contributing to the state's ambitious diversion goals." According to the Department of General Services, approximately 60 buildings are considered a state building or a large state facility. Per the State Administrative Manual Chapter 50, each state agency is already required to provide receptacles for recycling, signage, and education, as well as ensure sufficient staff to pick up the receptacles, review the adequacy of and condition of receptacles, and provide a summary of these activities in its annual report to CalRecycle. AB 2812 (Gordon) Page 3 of ? It is not clear how many state agencies, if any, are not complying with the State Administrative Manual. However, to the extent that certain state agencies that are currently not complying with the State Administrative Manual comply under this bill, the state will incur potentially significant costs. -- END --