SB 726 (Caballero)—Household Hazardous Waste Reuse

Overview: This legislation seeks to reduce the unnecessary incineration and disposal of hazardous household waste products by empowering local jurisdictions to improve and expand their Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) reuse programs.

CAW Position: Support

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Status: Signed by Governor

In Context: California’s Integrated Waste Management Act, AB 939 from 1989, addresses solid and HHW, setting the waste reduction hierarchy as Source Reduction First, then Recycling and Disposal.  California’s intent is to encourage waste reduction and reuse while ensuring that waste is disposed of in the most environmentally responsible manner possible.

The proposed statutory changes simply update the Health and Safety Code to enable local HHW reuse programs to expand their operations beyond current efforts to hold materials on site for reuse by customers, which aligns with California law.

Based on a March 2015 CalRecycle Survey, only 46% of responding HHW Programs provide a reuse program in their jurisdiction.  Unfortunately, as little as 3% of all household hazardous products collected annually is being reused, when roughly 15% are actually reusable.  

 Modern technology allows local jurisdictions and their contractors to scan HHW and make determinations about whether an item is reusable. Reusable items can then be diverted from landfill or incineration and reused by other consumers. This often benefits lower income households and the non-profits that serve them, such as Habitat for Humanity

Bill Summary: Among other things, AB 726:

  • Authorizes a public agency’s contractor to conduct that materials exchange program and would require that contractor to provide those same instructions to a recipient.

  • Authorizes the operation of a hazardous waste collection facility for the additional purpose of accepting reusable household hazardous products or materials and providing those products or materials to recipients.

  • Requires reusable household products or materials to be transported by those same entities and would additionally authorize a permanent household hazardous waste collection facility to transport hazardous waste or reusable household products or materials.

  • Prohibits an individual from transporting reusable household hazardous products or materials that exceed existing maximum volume and weight limits.

  • Additionally requires a recipient of a household hazardous product or material be responsible for using the product or material in conformance with its label, using appropriate personal protection, and managing unused products or materials as required by applicable state laws.

Current language, analysis, and votes

Supporters: For the full list of supporters, see the Senate analysis here.

CAW Staff Contact: Robert Nunez, (916)443-5422