Jun 3 - Assembly Advances Recycling Bills for Fluorescents and Paint

Legislation to establish producer responsiblity for waste reduction and recycling of residential fluorescent lighting and used paint passed off the floor of the State Assembly late yesterday. AB 1173 and AB 1343, both by Assembly Member Jared Huffman, will now be taken up in the State Senate. The bills must be adopted by the end of September in order to be enacted January 1, 2010.

CAW-sponsored AB 1173 will substantially reduce mercury emissions from residential fluorescent lighting (RFL) and establish a statewide fluorescent lamp recycling infrastructure through market-based source reduction and recycling incentives.

AB 1343 requires paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of the disposal of postconsumer paint in this state.

Stay tuned for news of the bills' progress in the Senate.