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.