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Assembly Bill 998 Household Hazardous Waste Letter of Support
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
Approve the letter of support for Assembly Bill 998 (Hadwick), as presented.
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Financial Impact:
None.
Background Information:
Currently, local schools that confiscate vape devices from students cannot dispose of these devices at the Agency's household hazardous waste facilities due to rules regarding the acceptance and handling very small quantity generator waste. Additionally, when a school takes possession of a vape, that device is no longer considered a "household" hazardous waste. Once the vape arrives 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. Another aspect, separate from vape devices, is the reporting requirements that all household hazardous waste facilities are subject to. Currently the Agency must report on a fiscal year basis the collection and disposition of all household hazardous waste brought to our facilities and, beginning this year, also must report very similar information on a calendar year basis.
AB 998 seeks to provide additional flexibility to household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facilities and schools, as follows:
? Allows HHW collection facilities to accept and manage as HHW vapes that are confiscated from students by schools.
? Opens another regulatory pathway for schools to manage and safely dispose of vapes confiscated from students.
? Allows HHW collection facilities to safely disassemble HHW devices to separate components like batteries, circuitry, and cartridges, thereby reducing disposal costs and increasing the potential to recycle individual components.
? Prohibits HHW collection facilities from offering vapes in their materials exchange/reuse programs.
? Requires CalR...
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