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Assembly Bill 2667 Household Hazardous Waste Letter of Support
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
Authorize the Agency Manager to sign the letter of support for Assembly Bill 2667 (Hadwick), as presented.
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Financial Impact:
None.
Background Information:
Assembly Bill 2667 seeks to protect children, young adults, and the public by: 1) Banning disguised vapes and vapes containing video display devices, 2) Providing an easier regulatory pathway for schools to properly dispose of vapes confiscated from students, and 3) Improving the safe collection, management, and proper disposal of vapes by local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facilities.
Banning disguised vapes and vapes containing video displays would help prevent minors from becoming addicted to them; while also reducing fire risks as these vape devices are made to look like highlighters and markers or hoodies. Because they are nearly identical to other consumer goods, and are more likely to avoid detection, they can make their way into our recycling facility or landfill increasing the risk of compaction and fires.
Schools that can identify and confiscate these devices may run into issues with disposing of them through our Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program, mainly because nicotine is an acutely hazardous waste and they can only dispose of 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste per month to qualify for VSQG status. This bill would direct the Department of Toxic Substances Control to evaluate opportunities to increase safety and convenience for managing vapes confiscated from students by a school.
When vape devices arrive at our facility there is no clarification on whether the disassembly of the vape device is allowed. The batteries in some of the devices can be removed and in others the "tank" holding the vape liquid can be removed, which would reduce the cost of disposing of the entire device. AB 2667 merely authorizes HHW collection facilities to disassemble vap...
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