Reducing Human & Environmental Exposure to Toxics by Reducing and Recycling Hazardous Products & Materials

The Problem: Exposure to toxic heavy metals and other hazardous materials poses a significant and growing threat to public health and the environment. Human exposure to mercury, lead and other hazardous substances contained in consumer electronics can result in neurological damage and cancer. Appropriately, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control has recently banned the disposal of most electronic devices in the solid waste stream. However, with a few exceptions, California lacks the infrastructure and incentives for the recycling of most of these devices. In 2003, approximately 450,000 tons of toxic laden electronics were disposed in California landfills, while millions of additional devices remained stockpiled in homes and office.

Our Approach: Expand Producer Responsibility for the End of Life Impact of hazardous products and materials. Wherever feasible, phase out the use of hazardous materials in products. Develop a convenient 'no cost' collection and recycling infrastructure. Establish market-based incentives to encourage the recycling of problem products.

Legislative Agenda:

1. Establish Extended Producer Responsibility for end of life management of hazardous materials and other problem products: Provide State Environmental agencies with the authority to require Producer Responsibility for reducing and recycling products and materials whose disposal in the solid waste stream has been restricted.
2. Expand California E-Recycling Law: Expand existing successful computer monitor and TV recycling law to include all electronic devices. This also includes establishing a free and convenient recycling system for fluorescent lighting while reducing the use of hazardous materials and increasing lamp life.
3. California RoHS: Phase out the use of toxic materials in consumer electronics.
4. Used Motor Oil: Eliminate Recycling Incentive Payments for used motor burned as fuel, while establishing incentives for recycled content in automotive and industrial lubricants.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions thru Source Reduction and Recycling

The Problem: Climate change threatens not only our statewide infrastructure and economy, but our health and the environment as well. The California Energy Commission projects an increase in coastal sea level, a decrease in winter snow pack and corresponding water supply, and dramatic strains on California's hot-season energy supply.

As the largest source of manmade methane emissions in the California, landfills are major GHG contributors. Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas and is 23 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2). Ton for ton, waste reduction and recycling reduces more pollution, saves more energy and reduces GHG emissions more than any other solid waste management option. Despite the proven benefits of recycling, 60% of the "garbage" that goes to the landfill is recyclable and just half of California residents have access to convenient and cost effective curbside recycling.

Our Approach: Diverting just an additional 20% of currently disposed aluminum cans, cardboard, food waste and paper, will cut GHG emissions from the solid waste sector in half.  This can be done by:

• Increasing residential and commercial recycling;
• Continuing source reduction efforts, particularly in the areas of packaging; and
• Expanding use of recycled content in manufacturing through market development and minimum content requirements.

Legislative Agenda:

1. Recycling Opportunity for Everyone: Expand recycling to every California household (single and multi-family), institution and commercial business.
2. Establish the goal of a 'Zero Waste California' and assign the California Integrated Waste Management Board responsibility for achieving 75% waste reduction, recycling and composting by 2020.
3. Expansion of composting: Hundreds of California communities now have greenwaste collection programs in place, these programs could be expanded to include food waste, which accounts for nearly 15% of the state's waste stream.

Reducing Water Pollution and Marine Debris by Reducing and Recycling Plastic Litter and Waste

The Problem: As the fastest growing component of the state's solid waste stream, and the number one type of material found littered on beaches and roadsides, plastics has impacted the economy and the environment. The abundance of plastic grocery bags, polystyrene cups and boxes, and other take-out food packaging--in our oceans poses significant risks to marine habitat, wildlife and water quality. Roughly 80% of marine debris originates from land-based activities, and plastics make up 90% of floating marine debris. Plastic debris kills animals through entanglement, starvation, suffocation, and ingestion. Less than 5% of plastic bags are recycled, and few contain recycled content. These easily disposable items, which are also frequently littered, take hundreds of years to break down.

Our Approach: Extend producer responsibility for the environmental and economic consequences of their disposable products and packaging, through take-back, source reduction, minimum recycled content and advance disposal fee approaches.

Legislative Agenda:

1. Reduce Single Use Grocery Bag litter and waste by promoting reuseable bags and requiring recycling of carryout bags.
2. Expand California Bottle Bill to include all plastic bottles.
3. Restrict the use of polystyrene and other take-out food packaging in coastal areas when that packaging is not compatible with existing successful recycling or composting programs.

 

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