Title
Environmental Management Department recommending the Board, pursuant to Board of Supervisors Policy A-3, Ordinances - New or Amended, conceptually approve and authorize the Department to prepare an Ordinance for County compliance with Senate Bill 1383 (Lara, 2016), Short-lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Reductions.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 19, 2016, Governor Brown signed into law SB 1383 (Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016), establishing methane emissions reduction targets in an effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants in various sectors of California’s economy. The statute sets statewide targets to reduce landfill disposal of organic material compared to 2014 baseline data (50% reduction by 2020 and 75% reduction by 2025), and to recover 20% of currently disposed edible food for human consumption by 2025. The law granted CalRecycle the regulatory authority required to achieve these statewide reduction targets.
SB 1383 sets statewide reduction targets, instead of jurisdiction-specific targets, for organics reduction. CalRecycle developed the Short Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Reductions requirements in Title 14, California Code of Regulations (SB 1383 Regulations) to include prescriptive program requirements for all California jurisdictions, generators, waste haulers, and waste processors that were deemed necessary in order to meet the statewide organics reduction targets.
SB 1383 Regulations require the County to establish legal authority to implement and mandate programs through the adoption of ordinances, policies, or similarly enforceable mechanisms. On February 22nd, 2022, Environmental Management sought and was granted Board approval (Item# 22-0242) of a Notice of Intent to Comply with Senate Bill 1383 requirements. Board policy A-3 requires “Proposals for new ordinances and ordinance amendments (to) first be presented to the Board for conceptual review and authorization to prepare the draft ordinance or ordinance amendment (be given).”
Environmental Management Department (EMD) is currently working on necessary revisions to the County Solid Waste Ordinance Code, the development of new or expanded programs and policies, and other enforceable mechanisms to ensure the County is in compliance with the SB 1383 regulations. EMD’s focus has been on amending the Solid Waste Handling Franchise Hauler Agreement, and establishing a County Ordinance. Upon approval of this item, Environmental Management will bring to the Board a proposed County Ordinance incorporating SB 1383 requirements, followed by or in conjunction with amendments to Solid Waste Handling Franchise Agreements for various County Franchise Areas in Summer 2022.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may deny approval of the conceptual proposal of the SB1383 Ordinance or provide other direction to staff.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
CalRecycle
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Health Communities
CONTACT
Jeffrey Warren, REHS
Director of Environmental Management Department