REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Study Session: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Regulations and Future Solid Waste Processing and Collections Options
Report
BACKGROUND
In September 2016, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California's economy. SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75 percent reduction by 2025. The law grants CalRecycle the regulatory authority required to achieve the organic waste disposal reduction targets.
Methane emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contributing to global climate change. Organic materials (including waste that can be readily prevented, recycled, or composted) account for a significant portion of California's overall waste stream. Food waste alone accounts for approximately 17-18 percent of total landfill disposal.
In May 2018, CalRecycle released its second draft of the new SLCP regulations. The regulations will require jurisdictions to implement organic waste collection services and develop edible food recovery programs by January 1, 2022. The regulations give CalRecycle the authority to fine jurisdictions up to $10,000 per day for non-compliance.
The City has agreements in place with Mission Trail Waste Systems (MTWS) for exclusive franchise refuse collection (expires December 30, 2021), Recology for residential curbside recycling services (expires January 10, 2020), and Republic Services for landfill disposal and composting services at Newby Island Landfill (expires December 31, 2024). The City will need to secure additional organic waste processing capacity in order to achieve compliance with the SLCP regulations.
DISCUSSION
At this Study Se...
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