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Hot Issues

California's Bottle & Can Recycling Law - The Bottle Bill

The nearly 20 year history of the California Bottle Bill has demonstrated that the combination of consumer recycling incentives and a convenient recycling infrastructure will result in greater recycling.

Since 1988, Californians have recycled more than 10 million tons of aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers. No other recycling program or policy in this state has resulted in higher recycling levels, and no program of its kind in the country has been found to be more cost effective.

Update: Big Gains for California Bottle Bill Recycling>>

 


icon_caw_top_priority Our Top Priority Legislation

AB 479 (Chesbro) - Solid Waste Diversion
Summary. AB 479 would set a statewide diversion goal of 75% and require commercial recycling.

Position and Status. CAW Supports. This bill passed the Assembly Floor and will next be heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. It previously passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and the Appropriations Committee.

AB 222 (Adams) Bio-Refineries / Conversion Technologies
Summary. AB 222 (Adams) would allow controversial and environmentally-unproven waste-to-energy technologies to count as “recycling” under the state’s landmark recycling law (even though they destroy resources) and to count as “renewable” under the state’s renewable energy law (even though they generate electricity from fossil sources). With proposed amendments, the bill would also eliminate existing environmental protections in statute that prohibit a solid waste conversion facility from emitting air and water pollution.

Position and Status. CAW opposes. AB 222 passed the Assembly Floor, and will next be heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. It previously passed the the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee and the Assembly Appropriations committee.

AB 1173 (Huffman) - Fluorescent Lamp Toxics Reduction and Recycling Act

Summary. Creates a free and convenient program for consumers to properly dispose of residential fluorescent lights (RFL).

Position and Status. CAW sponsors and supports. AB 1173 passed through the assembly side and now will be heard in Senate EQ on 7/6/09.

 


Actions

Take Action to Urge Sacramento County to Ban Plastic Bags

Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson has introduced an ordinance that would ban plastic bags and other environmentally degrading single-use bags at large retailers in unincorporated county areas.  Plastic bag litter from Sacramento County is a major source of the plastic litter pollution in the sensitive Delta region, the San Fracisco Bay and the Pacific.  Please consider sending in a support letter.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Take Action to Save Recycling Funding

The Department of Finance has proposed a series of draconian cuts to the Beverage Container Recycling Program. These cuts are completely unnecessary because the desired reprioritization of expenditures can be achieved in a way that strengthens recycling, not weakens it.

TAKE ACTION NOW

 

Californians Against Waste is recognized as one of the nation's leading non-profit environmental research and advocacy organizations focusing on resource conservation and pollution prevention through waste reduction and recycling. The organization's 31 year history and track record of accomplishments has demonstrated it to be principled, practical, creative and effective. Find out more about CAW.