BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                      



           ------------------------------------------------------------ 
          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  SB 1359|
          |Office of Senate Floor Analyses   |                         |
          |1020 N Street, Suite 524          |                         |
          |(916) 651-1520         Fax: (916) |                         |
          |327-4478                          |                         |
           ------------------------------------------------------------ 
           
                                         
                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 1359
          Author:   Simitian (D)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     27 - Urgency

           
           SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE  :  6-0, 04/16/12
          AYES:  Simitian, Blakeslee, Hancock, Kehoe, Lowenthal, 
            Pavley
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Strickland

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Solid waste:  compost

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill deletes the definition of "compost" 
          under the Compost Market Program (CMP) and instead 
          references the definition under the Integrated Waste 
          Management Act (IWMA).

           ANALYSIS  :    Existing law:

          1.Under CMP: 

               A.     Requires the Department of General Services 
                 (DGS) and the Department of Resources Recycling and 
                 Recovery (CalRecycle) in consultation with other 
                 state agencies to maintain specifications for the 
                 purchase of compost. 
                                                           CONTINUED





                                                               SB 1359
                                                                Page 
          2


               B.     Requires CalRecycle, 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. 

               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. 

          1.Under 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. 

          2.Under the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign  "compost" 
            means a product that meets the following requirements:

             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 CalRecycle composting operations 
               regulatory requirements.

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

           Comments
          
           According to the author, this bill makes a technical change 
          clarifying that the definition of compost under the IWMA 
          also applies to the Compost Market Program.
           
           According to the CalRecycle 2011 Annual Report: 


                                                           CONTINUED





                                                               SB 1359
                                                                Page 
          3

               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.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes   
          Local:  No



          DLW:nl  5/1/12   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

                                ****  END  ****
























                                                           CONTINUED