Apr 19 - Mattress Recycling Bill Advances

Legislation to combat used mattress dumping and increase recycling advanced thru a key policy committee this week under a tentative compromise between mattress manufacturers and Californians Against Waste.

After fighting the issue last year, mattress manufacturers have come to the table and are now in support of SB 254, which would create the first comprehensive mattress recycling legislation in the nation.

SB 254 by Senator Hancock now includes elements of Senator Correa’s SB 245: a dedicated funding mechanism and a mandate for a single stewardship plan. Senator Lou Correa joins as coauthor and said the bill would drive job creation in the mattress recycling industry and minimizes costs to both government and consumers.

Testifying before the committee, CAW Executive Director Mark Murray thanked Senator Hancock for her leadership over the past year and noted that last year's bill SB 1118 made it out of Senate EQ, and off both the Senate and Assembly floor last year.

"That momentum brought manufacturers to the table and we were able to achieve what we think is a win here…it’s time to make this happen."

The bill passed by a vote of 6-0, and now moves to Senate Appropriations.

SB 254 would help reduce illegal mattress dumping by requiring manufacturers to develop, and implement a convenient and cost effective program to collect and recycle used mattresses generated in this state.

Watch the Senate EQ hearing here. Discussion of SB 254 begins at 2:35:49.

Read the LA Times story about the bill here.

Photo Credit: Bob Chamberlin, Los Angeles Times / March 12, 2013