BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                               SB 1359
                                                                       

                       SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
                         Senator S. Joseph Simitian, Chairman
                               2011-2012 Regular Session
                                            
           BILL NO:    SB 1359
           AUTHOR:     Simitian
           AMENDED:    As Introduced
           FISCAL:     Yes               HEARING DATE:     April 16, 2012
           URGENCY:    Yes               CONSULTANT:       Peter Cowan
            
           SUBJECT  :    SOLID WASTE: COMPOST

            SUMMARY  :    
           
            Existing law  :

           1) Under the Compost Market Program (CMP): 

              a)    Requires the Department of General Services (DGS) and 
                 the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (DRRR) 
                 in consultation with other state agencies to maintain 
                 specifications for the purchase of compost.  (Public 
                 Resources Code �42240).

              b)    Requires DRRR, DGS, the Department of Transportation, 
                 the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the 
                 Department of Parks and Recreation to initiate specified 
                 programs that use compost.  (�42243).

              c)    For the purposes of CMP, defines "compost" as the 
                 product resulting from the controlled biological 
                 decomposition of organic wastes that are sources separated 
                 from the municipal solid waste stream.  (�42231). 

           2) Under the Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA) "compost" is 
              defined as the product resulting from the controlled 
              biological decomposition of organic wastes that are source 
              separated from the municipal solid waste stream, or which are 
              separated at a centralized facility. "Compost" includes 
              vegetable, yard, and wood wastes which are not hazardous 
              waste.  (�40116).

           3) Under the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign  "compost" means 









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              a product that meets the following requirements (Public 
              Contract Code �12207):

              a)    It results from the controlled biological decomposition 
                 of organic materials, including, but not limited to, yard 
                 trimmings and wood byproducts that are separated from the 
                 municipal solid waste stream at the source of generation 
                 or at a centralized facility, or other source of organic 
                 materials.

              b)    It is produced by a public or private supplier that is 
                 in compliance with DRRR composting operations regulatory 
                 requirements.

            This bill  :  Deletes the definition of "compost" under the CMP 
           and instead references the definition under the IWMA.

            COMMENTS  :

            1) Purpose of Bill  .  According to the author, SB 1359 makes a 
              technical change clarifying that the definition of compost 
              under the IWMA also applies to the Compost Market Program.

            2) Background  . According to the DRRR 2011 Annual Report: 

                "In 2010, more than 200 facilities processed approximately 
                9 million tons of organic material, including food and 
                vegetative material, into compost and other products. This 
                infrastructure has grown significantly since the early 
                1990s, aided in part by CalRecycle demonstration projects, 
                research studies, funding, education and promotion, 
                standards development, siting and capacity development, 
                CalRecycle regulations, and coordination with other 
                agencies on their regulations."

            SOURCE  :        Senator Simitian  

           SUPPORT  :       None on file  

           OPPOSITION  :    None on file  

            










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