BILL NUMBER: SB 970	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Leyva

                        FEBRUARY 8, 2016

   An act to add Section 42649.88 to the Public Resources Code,
relating to solid waste.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 970, as introduced, Leyva. Organic food waste diversion.
   Existing law requires the Department of Resources Recycling and
Recovery to identify and recommend actions to address permitting and
siting challenges and to encourage the continued viability of the
state's organic waste processing and recycling infrastructure, in
partnership with the California Environmental Protection Agency and
other specified state and regional agencies. Existing law requires
the department to cooperate with local jurisdictions and industry to
provide assistance for increasing the feasibility of organic waste
recycling and to identify certain state financing mechanisms and
state funding incentives and post this information on its Internet
Web site.
   This bill would require, by June 1, 2017, the department, in
consultation with the State Air Resources Board and the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to develop a pilot
program that encourages cost-effective and efficient integrated
organic food waste diversion projects.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Regional Integrated Organics Diversion and Beneficial Utilization
Act.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division
25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code)
establishes a policy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990
levels by 2020 and to continue those reductions of greenhouse gases
beyond 2020.
   (b) The critical role that short lived climate pollutants (SLCPs)
must play in the state's climate efforts is recognized in Chapter 4.2
(commencing with Section 39730) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the
Health and Safety Code, which requires the State Air Resources Board
to develop a strategy to reduce the emissions of SLCPs.
   (c) California must achieve deep reductions in the emissions of
SLCPs by 2030 to meet potential or actual future greenhouse gas
emissions targets and air quality goals.
   (d) Intensified state and global action to reduce the emissions of
SLCPs is the only way to immediately slow global warming and manage
the damaging effects of climate change.
   (e) California has clear goals to reduce waste and to divert
organic materials from landfills and put them to beneficial use. The
state has a target to reduce landfilling of solid waste by 75 percent
by 2020.
   (f) Organic waste constitutes more than one-third of California's
waste stream. Food waste alone accounts for about five million tons
of landfilled organics each year.
   (g) Efforts to divert organics from landfills and develop
infrastructure that makes best use of the material are key elements
of an integrated strategy.
   (h) Significant efforts to divert organic materials from landfills
and reduce methane emissions and develop low or negative carbon
transportation fuels should be encouraged by state policies.
   (i) As future clean energy investments are planned and
implemented, state officials should ensure targeted investment,
regional cooperation, and public-private partnerships are utilized to
maximize the state's organics diversion efforts and achieve
cost-effective and environmentally beneficial reductions in the
emissions of greenhouse gases.
  SEC. 3.  Section 42649.88 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   42649.88.  By June 1, 2017, the department, in consultation with
the State Air Resources Board and the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission, shall develop a pilot
program that encourages cost-effective and efficient integrated
organic food waste diversion projects. The pilot program shall give
priority to projects that are based on regional cooperation and
provide the following benefits:
   (a) Cost-effective utilization of existing anaerobic digestion
capacity at public wastewater agencies.
   (b) Making the best use of diverted organics, including the
production of low or negative carbon transportation fuels.
   (c) Direct or indirect reduction in the emissions of criteria air
pollutants.
   (d) Effective use of public-private partnerships.
   (e) Environmental benefits for disadvantaged communities, as
identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
   (f) Local job creation.