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Senate Bill 501 Household Hazardous Waste Letter of Support
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Requested Action(s)
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Approve the letter of support for Senate Bill 501 (Allen), as presented.
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Financial Impact:
None.
Background Information:
Household hazardous waste (HHW) collection and disposal for next fiscal year will be budgeted at $160,000, twice what was budgeted for in fiscal year 2018/19. While some of these waste types are currently managed through extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, such as paint, sharps, and mercury thermostats; many other types are not covered and have been increasing in cost to dispose of. SB 501 (Allen) would create a producer-funded EPR program for specified HHW products. Vermont is the only state to have passed similar legislation in 2023 to implement an HHW EPR program beginning this summer.
Under the authority of number 5 below, the Agency Manager provided support for the coalition letter, included in your agenda packet, dated April 15, 2025.
In the event a position letter is sent without formal approval by the Board of Directors, the Agency Manager will submit the position letter for approval of the Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled meeting. In all other instances, the Agency Manager must seek approval of a position letter from the Board of Directors prior to submission. All position letters must be limited to solid waste, recycling, and hazardous waste related issues. The Policy is limited to proposed legislation that affects the mission of the Tehama County Solid Waste Management Agency. The Policy is an evolving document and may be amended with approval by the Agency Board of Directors.
As approved by the Board of Directors, the Agency Manager may submit position letters as described below:
1. Support legislation that would clearly describe what is meant by “organics,” and eases the permitting and siting of composting facilities.
2. Support legislation that would promote through economic, regulatory, and/or other incentive processes the development of in-California manufacturing facilities using recycled materials.
3. Support legislation and/or regulations that provide local government with the authority and funding to achieve mandated activities.
4. Support legislation to eliminate overlap between state agencies and departments.
5. Support product stewardship and increased manufacturer responsibility with respect to materials that are difficult to recycle, and/or difficult to manage, and/or classified as hazardous, and/or banned from landfills.
6. Support legislation to extend the sunset date of the Recycling Market Development Zone program. Legislation to support the use of RMDZ funds to promote new and expanded markets for recyclable materials.
7. Support legislation that would promote through economic, regulatory, and/or incentive processes the development of rural California manufacturing facilities using materials recovered from recycling activities.
8. Oppose legislation that would weaken local government authority or cause undue financial responsibility on local government.
9. Oppose legislation that would allow any State agency to promulgate regulations, guidelines, procedures, directions, or policies to ban materials from landfill disposal without a plan for realistic and cost-effective ways to remove the materials from the waste stream.
10. Oppose legislation that would increase state fees and surcharges unless appropriate and/or meet the mission statement.
11. Oppose regulations and/or legislation that creates contradictory goals at state agencies and/or departments.
12. Oppose amendments to the Bottle Bill that will negatively affect the City/County Payment Program and/or rural handlers/processers of California Redemption Value material.