BILL ANALYSIS
AB 903
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Nancy Skinner, Chair
AB 903 (Chesbro) - As Introduced: February 26, 2009
SUBJECT : Solid waste: state agency recycling: electronic
waste
SUMMARY : This bill requires state agencies to include
information on electronic waste (e-waste) reduction and disposal
in their annual report to the California Integrated Waste
Management Board (CIWMB) relating to solid waste reduction.
EXISTING LAW , pursuant to the California Integrated Waste
Management Act of 1989, requires state agencies to adopt an
integrated waste management plan (plan). Requires state
agencies to divert at least 50% of all solid waste from landfill
disposal and transformation by January 1, 2004 and requires all
state agencies to submit an annual report to CIWMB summarizing
their progress in diverting solid waste. At a minimum, the plan
must include:
1)Calculations of annual disposal reduction;
2)Information on changes in waste generated or disposed due to
changes in the number of employees, economics, or other
factors;
3)A summary of progress made in implementing the agency's
integrated waste management plan; and,
4)The extent to which the agency intends to utilize local
government programs or facilities for the handling, diversion,
and disposal of solid waste.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
In November 2008, the California State Auditor released a report
entitled Electronic Waste: Some State Agencies Have Discarded
Their Electronic Waste Improperly, While State and Local
Oversight is Limited (Report Number 2008-112). The report
states that the improper disposal of e-waste in the state may
AB 903
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present health problems for its citizens. In addition to
containing lead, e-waste can contain other toxic materials such
as cadmium, chromium, and mercury. The Auditor determined that
two of the five agencies subject to the audit, the Department of
Motor Vehicles and the Employment Development Department,
discarded 26 electronic devices in the trash. The other three,
the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation,
and the Department of Justice, did not identify how electronic
devices were disposed, but all three indicated that their
practices included placing a total of more than 350 devices in
the trash.
State regulations require waste generators to determine whether
their waste, including e-waste, is hazardous before disposal.
However, none of the five agencies could demonstrate that they
made this determination. The report found that there is
inadequate information provided to state agencies on proper
management of e-waste. Additionally, the audit found that the
agencies were inconsistent in their reporting on e-waste
diverted from landfills. Moreover, because e-waste is not
classified as solid waste, it is not currently required to be
included in agencies' annual report to CIWMB.
The report states, "If the Legislature believes that state
agencies should track more accurately the amounts of e-waste
they generate, recycle, and discard, we recommend it consider
imposing a requirement that agencies do so." This bill
implements this recommendation.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092