AB 895

Bill Subjects

Solid Waste Management

Abstract

The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, which is administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, establishes an integrated waste management program that requires each county and city and county to prepare and submit to the department a countywide integrated waste management plan. Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to complete a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants in the state and to approve and begin implementing the strategy to achieve a reduction in the statewide emissions of methane by 40% below 2013 levels by 2030, among other goals. Existing law requires the methane emissions goals to reduce the landfill disposal of organics by meeting specified targets that include a 50% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025. Existing law authorizes the department, in consultation with the state board, to adopt regulations that achieve the specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills. Existing law authorizes local jurisdictions to charge and collect fees to recover the local jurisdiction's costs incurred in complying with those regulations. Existing law also requires, no later than July 1, 2020, the department, in consultation with the state board, to analyze the progress that the waste sector, state government, and local governments have made in achieving the specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills. Existing law authorizes the department, depending on the outcome of that analysis, to amend the regulations to include incentives or additional requirements, as specified. This bill would require the department to analyze the progress that the waste sector, state government, and local governments have made in achieving the organic waste reduction goals for 2020 and 2025 every 5 years. Because existing law authorizes the department to amend the regulations depending on the outcome of the analysis, as described above, the bill would add to the duties of local governments related to organic waste in landfills, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.