BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 323
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Date of Hearing: May 24, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 323 (Chesbro) - As Introduced: February 12, 2013
Policy Committee: Natural
ResourcesVote:6-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires CalRecyle to phase-out recycling credit for
green waste used in the operation of a landfill. Specifically,
this bill requires CalRecycle to:
1)Adopt regulations by January 1, 2020 to specify the use of
green material as alternative daily or intermediate cover (ADC
or IC) does not constitute diversion. Authorizes CalRecycle
to delay the effective date of the regulations for up to two
years as specified.
2)Analyze the public health and safety effects of the use of
residual fines (e.g., the material left over after removing
the recyclable materials) from material recovery facilities
(MRFs) and materials left over from the composting process
(compost overs) for ADC and other forms of beneficial use. On
or before January 1, 2015, adopt regulations for the use of
MRF fines as an authorized material for use as ADC and
beneficial reuse at solid waste facilities in the state as
specified.
3)Adopt regulations by January 1, 2017 that would require a
large-quantity commercial organics generator to arrange for
separate organics collection and recycling services.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)One-time cost to CalRecyle of approximately $250,000 from the
Integrated Waste Management Fund to adopt regulations to
specify that the use of green material as specified is not a
waste diversion.
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By changing alternative daily cover from a beneficial use to
disposal, CalRecycle will be able to charge the tipping fee on
green waste. The current tipping fee is set at $1.40 per ton
Currently, about 1.7 million tons of green waste is used as
ADC and 6 thousand tons of green waste is used as AIC.
2)One-time cost to CalRecycle of about $250,000 from the
Integrated Waste Management Fund to adopt regulations
requiring a large-quantity commercial organics generator to
arrange for separate collection and recycling services.
3)One-time costs of $100,000 per year for two-years to conduct
the analysis to determine if residual fines from material
recovery or composting facilities can be used for alternative
daily cover.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. This bill is intended help achieve the state's air
quality, GHG, and waste reduction goals by diverting organic
materials from landfills. According to the author, Recycling
organic waste provides significant GHG reductions over
landfilling. Composting and other organics processing
technologies, including anaerobic digestion, reduce GHGs by
avoiding the emissions that would be generated by the
material's decomposition in a landfill.
2)Background. CalRecycle is tasked with diverting at least 75%
of solid waste statewide by 2020. Currently, organic
materials make up one-third of the waste stream and food
continues to be the highest single item disposed at over 15%
of disposal.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
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