California plans on 75 percent recycling rate by 2020

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 12:52 |

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California plans on 75 percent recycling rate by 2020

By Jake Thomas, Resource Recycling

A California state agency has unveiled a new white paper on how the Golden State can reach a 75-percent recycling rate by 2020 that's called for by law.

Authored by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), "California's New Goal: 75 Percent Recycling [1]" is meant to be a "conversation starter" for how to meet the ambitious target set by the enactment of Assembly Bill 341 [2].

Signed by Governor Jerry Brown last year, the legislation builds upon the state's previous 50-percent waste-reduction mandate that was established by a law passed 21 years ago. The new law requires that all businesses, institutions and multi-family dwellings establish recycling and/or composting programs. It also directs CalRecycle to deliver a report to the legislature in January of 2014 that will identify problematic waste streams and how to handle them, evaluate the effectiveness of current recycling programs, as well make legislative recommendations, according to Mark Oldfield, spokesperson for the department.

"We intend to take advantage of AB 341's invitation to define the future," reads the CalRecycle white paper. "Our report will offer the Legislature concepts for legislative change and a vision of a new paradigm for solid waste management in California."

Meeting the 75-percent recycling goal, according to the white paper, will require stronger markets for recycled material, increased recovery, expansion of infrastructure and participation by the public.

The 75-percent recycling rate called for in the law is an aspirational goal and not a mandate. It's also not a diversion rate, meaning that activities such as alternative daily cover, alternative intermediate cover, beneficial reuse at landfills, material transformation (incineration) and used-tire derived fuel cannot be used toward meeting it.

Currently, California has a diversion rate of 65 percent and a beverage container recycling rate of 82 percent. According to the white paper, California disposed of nearly 37 million tons of waste in 2010 and had an actual recycling rate of 49 percent.

In order to reach the 75 percent recycling goal, the state will need to reduce the amount of waste it produces by 22 million tons, according to the white paper. Of this amount, organics represents the biggest portion at 32 percent, followed by inerts (such as C&D) at 28 percent.

"What we did internally is look at the universe of options are," said Oldfield of the white paper, which examines 10 policies that could be used to meet the goal.

Included in these policies are investing in recycling infrastructure, phasing organics out of landfills, establishing extended producer responsibility and expanding the beverage container program, among other measures.

"At this point, we're still kind of reviewing everything, but generally we're really happy," said Nick Lapis, legislative coordinator for environmental advocacy organization Californians Against Waste. "There are a lot of bold elements in the plan and a lot of things we've been suggesting for a long time are included here."

In particular, Lapis said his group applauds the use of a recycling rather than a diversion rate as a waste-reduction standard. Lapis added that his group will provide input on the report CalRecycle is slated to deliver to the legislature in 2014.

CalRecycle is currently soliciting public input. To find out more, visit the department's website [3].