In 2011, the Legislature implemented a new approach to the management of solid waste. AB 341 (Chesbro, Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011) established a new statewide goal of 75 percent recycling through source reduction, recycling, and composting by 2020. Several activities that count toward diversion under AB 939 (Sher, Chapter 1095, Statutes of 1989) do not count toward recycling under AB 341, including ADC, AIC, other beneficial reuse at landfills, transformation credit, and waste derived fuel. These five activities are instead defined as “disposal-related activities.” The combination of landfilled disposal and disposal-related tons, as shown in the graph below, equals the total disposal used to calculate California’s 75 percent recycling rate. For more information about California’s recycling rate and a comparison of disposal definitions under AB 939 and AB 341 please see the State of Recycling in California report.

This graph shows California’s statewide recycling rate since 2010. An explanation of this measurement system can be found in the presentation, What Does 75 Percent Recycling Mean?

The same data in the above graph is shown below in a table format.