BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 221
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Senator Jerry Hill, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 221
AUTHOR: Quirk-Silva
AMENDED: June 10, 2013
FISCAL: Yes HEARING DATE: June 19, 2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Joanne Roy
SUBJECT : RECYCLED CONCRETE
SUMMARY :
Existing law :
1) Provides that the policy of the state is to conserve and
protect resources by encouraging the recycling of solid waste
and the purchase of those recycled materials.
2) Authorizes the use of recycled concrete materials, as defined,
if the user has been fully informed that the concrete may
contain recycled concrete materials.
3) Prohibits recycled concrete from being offered, provided, or
sold to the Department of Transportation or the Department of
General Services for any use unless specifically requested and
approved by that department.
4) Defines "recycled concrete" as reclaimed concrete material
used in concrete mixtures in accordance with specified
standards.
This bill :
1) Makes several findings and declarations about the benefits of
recycling concrete.
2) Revises the definition of "recycled concrete" by deleting
reference to the Uniform Building Code and includes mix
designs or aggregate gradations of reclaimed concrete material
that are in accordance with specifications of the California
Building Code and the California Green Building Standards Code
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(GBSC).
COMMENTS :
1) Purpose of Bill . According to the author, "With the current
statute being enacted prior to the adoption of both AB 32 and
the California Green Building Standards Code (CGBS), this
statute needs to be updated to reference the California GBSC
and more clearly state the resource conservation and
sustainability benefits from recycling reclaimed concrete
materials. AB 221 will help achieve current AB 32 goals by
encouraging the recycling of concrete by adding code reference
to the GBSC in current statute. This links the concrete
recycling provisions in the GBSC to the current statute and
ensures that link remains as the GBSC expands. This bill also
will remove the incorrect references to the Uniform Building
Code and update it to reference the California Building
Standards Code. Finally, AB 221 updates the findings to
clearly state the specific resource conservation and
sustainability benefits from recycling, as well as conveys the
industry's support for green design."
2) Background: Recycled Concrete . There are approximately 100
producers of recycled concrete in California. Concrete
recycling is a method of using the rubble from structures made
of concrete that are demolished or renovated. Recycled
concrete aggregate (RCA) is produced by crushing concrete to
reclaim the aggregate. The primary use or market for recycled
concrete is road base; in paved roads as aggregate base,
aggregate subbase, and shoulders, or surfacing for gravel
roads. Other uses include base for building foundations,
curbs, gutters, and sidewalks - all of which are considered
flat work. On the other hand, for work not considered flat,
RCA may not be considered suitable. In comparative tests of
columns made of RCA and natural concrete aggregate, RCA showed
similar bearing capacity with natural concrete aggregate but
demonstrated significantly greater deformations. (Journal of
Advanced Concrete Technology, "Comparative Tests of Beams and
Columns Made of Recycled Aggregate Concrete and Natural
Aggregate Concrete," 2007).
Recycling of concrete has two primary environmental benefits:
reducing the amount of waste going into landfills and reducing
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the depletion of natural sources used for aggregate.
According to the California Department of Resources Recycling
and Recovery (CalRecycle), "[T]he use of recycled aggregate
can save money for local governments and other purchasers,
create additional business opportunities, save energy when
recycling is done on site, conserve resources of urban
aggregates, and help local governments meet the diversion
goals of AB 989." Asphalt and concrete make up approximately
2.4% of California's disposed waste stream, which is over
977,000 tons.
SOURCE : California Construction and Industrial Materials
Association
SUPPORT : 7/11 Materials, Inc.
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME)
Bender Ready Mix, Inc.
California Construction Trucking Association
California Nevada Cement Association
DHE, Inc.
Elementis Specialties, Inc.
National Ready Mixed Concrete Co.
SESPE Consulting, Inc.
Specialty Minerals, Inc.
Syar Industries, Inc. and Syar Concrete LLC
Vulcan Materials Company, West Region
Werner Corporation
West Coast Aggregates, Inc.
Individual (1)
OPPOSITION : None on file