REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Agreements with the County of Santa Clara for the Countywide AB 939 Implementation Fee and Countywide Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure; Sustainability
BACKGROUND
In 1989, Assembly Bill (AB) 939 was passed, which required jurisdictions to develop plans to implement source reduction, recycling, composting, public education, and household hazardous waste (HHW) programs to achieve 50 percent waste diversion by the year 2000. Known as the California Integrated Solid Waste Management Act of 1989, AB 939 provided local fee authority to cities and counties to impose fees to fund the development and implementation of waste diversion activities. The jurisdictions in Santa Clara County developed and approved the Countywide AB 939 Implementation Fee in 1992 to help fund waste reduction efforts.
The Countywide AB 939 Implementation Fee agreement imposes a $4.10 per ton fee on each ton of waste generated within the County that is destined for disposal in a landfill. Landfills are required by the state to allocate all disposal tonnage to specific jurisdictions. All disposal facilities located within the County and solid waste haulers that transport waste outside of the County for landfill disposal are required to pay the AB 939 Implementation Fee on each ton of waste.
The $4.10 per ton AB 939 Implementation Fee is composed of a Program Fee of $1.50 per ton and a HHW Fee of $2.60 per ton. The County of Santa Clara collects and distributes the AB 939 Implementation Fee on behalf of all jurisdictions. The Program Fee revenues are distributed to the City on a quarterly basis and reduce the City programs cost element of the residential recycling rate charged to all residential customers. This agreement has been renewed upon each successive expiration. The current agreement, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, was approved ...
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