BREAKING: Governor Newsom takes historic action on climate and waste bills!
September 16, 2022
At a press conference on Mare Island, with several oil refineries as a backdrop, Gavin Newsom signed a package of 40 bills this morning. Among them were historic CAW co-sponsored bills to eliminate recycling credit for incineration, create a universal collection program for batteries, and expand the state's landmark e-waste law to include a point-of-sale fee on all products with embedded batteries.
SB 1215 (Newman) – Adding Battery-Embedded Products to the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003: This bill expands CA’s landmark E-waste Recycling program to cover any product that contains a non-removable battery, including establishing an advanced disposal fee for these products. Co-sponsored by California Product Stewardship Council, RethinkWaste and CAW.
AB 2440 (Irwin) –Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022: This bill will establish a manufacturer-run stewardship program for alkaline and rechargeable batteries and require all retail chains that sell batteries to provide free collection for consumers. Co-sponsored by California Product Stewardship Council, RethinkWaste and CAW.
AB 1857 (C. Garcia) - Moving California Away from Trash Incineration: This bill removes the diversion credit for the state’s two remaining municipal solid waste incinerators and creates a grant program designed to assist communities most impacted by the incinerators deal with impacts and transition towards zero-waste technologies. Co-sponsored by CAW, Earthjustice, Valley Improvement Projects, and East Yards Communities for Environmental Justice.
AB 1985 (R. Rivas) - Organic Waste Product Procurement: This bill phases in the procurement requirements of SB 1383 to allow additional time for local governments to develop sustainable markets for compost and other organic waste products. Co-sponsored by CAW, League of Cities, and Rethink Waste.
The Governor also signed AB 1757 by Assembly members Cristina Garcia and Robert Rivas, which will create a target for natural carbon sequestration through processes like compost application, and SB 1137 by Senators Lena Gonzalez and Monique Limón to prohibit drilling and fracking near homes and schools.
We are still anxiously awaiting the Governor's action on three other priority bills:
SB 1013 (Atkins) Adding Wine and Distilled Spirits to the Bottle Bill: This bill expands California’s landmark Bottle Bill to add wine bottles and distilled spirit containers to increase recycling volumes, reduce unsightly litter along streets and highways, and protect California’s environment and natural resources.
SB 1046 (Eggman and Gonzalez) Ban on Traditional Plastic Produce Bags: This bill would prohibit stores from distributing non-compostable plastic produce bags and instead require produce bags to be reusable or made from paper or compostable materials beginning in 2025. It would also ban the use of green/brown tinting for any non-compostable bags.
AB 2784 (Ting) Thermoform Plastic Minimum Content Standards: This bill would require manufacturers of thermoform plastic containers to use increasing amounts of postconsumer thermoform recycled plastic or pay a penalty for their shortfall.
Thank you for the flood of calls, emails, and letters that helped get these bills over the top.
Nick Lapis
Director of Advocacy
Californians Against Waste
