BILL ANALYSIS
AB 737
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 737 (Chesbro)
As Amended August 20, 2010
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(April 20, |SENATE: |21-11|(August 30, |
| | |2010) | | |2010) |
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(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: E.S. & T.M.
SUMMARY : Establishes requirements for commercial recycling and
requires the Department of Recourses Recovery and Recycling
(DRRR) to report to the Legislature, by January 1, 2013, on the
current diversion rate in the state and potential strategies to
increase the diversion rate to 75%, and report information on
the costs of the strategies identified in the report.
The Senate amendments :
1)Delete the increased local and statewide diversion goals.
2)Require local governments to update existing non-disposal
facility elements as conditions change and provide that
information to DRRR.
3)On or before January 1, 2013, require DRRR to report to the
Legislature on strategies to increase the diversion rate to
75% by 2020.
4)Require businesses that contract for solid waste disposal and
generate more than four cubic yards of solid waste and
recyclable materials per week to arrange for recycling
services. Such businesses are required to either separate
recyclable materials from solid waste and arrange for their
collection or contract with a recycling service that provides
mixed waste processing services.
5)Require local governments to implement a commercial recycling
program, unless a jurisdiction already has established such a
program. Requires DRRR to review local commercial recycling
programs.
AB 737
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6)Authorize local agencies to collect a fee from commercial
waste generators to recover the local agency's costs.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required public water
systems, when they are otherwise required to notify or report to
users about potential public health risks related to the
systems' drinking water, to also post those notices and reports
on their Internet Web sites.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, this bill does not have significant costs. The
commercial recycling requirements may decrease tipping fee
revenues to the extent that the material is no longer disposed.
(Integrated Waste Management Account)
COMMENTS : California is a national leader in diverting waste
from landfills, currently diverting 54% of all waste. CIWMB has
adopted a "zero waste" goal for California. While a laudable
goal, this is unreachable without significant increases in
diversion efforts, including requirements for commercial
recycling. According to DRRR, the commercial sector generates
approximately 60% of waste disposed. The AB 32 Scoping Plan,
adopted by ARB in December 2008 in response to the California
Global Warming Solutions Act, calls for substantial increases in
recycling for the commercial sector and states that "this could
be implemented, for example, through voluntary or mandatory
programs, including protocols, enhanced partnerships with local
governments, and provision of appropriate financial incentives."
Recycling provides significant benefits. Not only does it
conserve natural resources, energy, and water, it also creates
jobs and builds California's economy. According to Californians
Against Waste, the recycling industry accounts for more than
85,000 jobs and generates nearly $4 billion annually in wages
and produces $10 billion worth of goods and services annually.
Moreover, recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
landfills and manufacturing. According to the Scoping Plan, 5.6
million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2E), of the
state's total GHG emissions are from solid waste landfills. If
left unaddressed, that number will reach 7.7 MMTCE by the year
2020. The Scoping Plan calls for reductions in methane
emissions from landfills through increased diversion/recycling,
composting, and commercial recycling.
According to the author, despite the state's major advances in
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recycling and waste reduction, California still generates 93
million tons of waste each year. This bill will increase
recycling in the commercial sector and encourages the state to
work toward higher diversion levels. The author also states tat,
recycling helps propel California's economic engine. Cutting our
waste by 50% has resulted in more than 125,000 green jobs
statewide. It generates $4 billion yearly in salaries and
wages, and produces $10 billion worth of goods and services
annually.
Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0006726