Stay Informed...

This webpage summarizes ongoing CalRecycle efforts related to the five priority strategies and three additional focus areas recommended in the Report to the Legislature. They represent the next evolutionary phase of materials management in California to strive for the ambitious goal of 75 percent recycling, composting or source reduction of solid waste by 2020 called for by AB 341 (Chesbro, Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011).

If you require assistance accessing any documents on this page, contact CalRecycle's Office of Public Affairs at (916) 341-6300.

Current Initiatives and Workshops

Below are links for ongoing staff activities and stakeholder workshops. New links will be added as warranted...so keep checking! To keep track of workshops, check the list of upcoming workshops or past workshops.

  1. Moving Organics Out of the Landfill
  2. Expanding the Recycling/Manufacturing Infrastructure
  3. Exploring New Models for State and Local Funding of Materials Management Programs
  4. Promoting State Procurement of Postconsumer Recycled Content Products
  5. Promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
  6. Source Reduction
  7. Commercial Recycling
  8. Other Products (Packaging, Waste Tires, E-Waste, and Used Oil)

1. Moving Organics Out of the Landfill

  • Redirect Organics to Composting or Anaerobic Digestion Facilities
    • Anaerobic Digestion- What is it and Who is Doing it? A primer for local agencies provides background on technical considerations and financing approaches that local officials and staff should consider. Includes case examples from Sacramento, Monterey Region, and city of Perris. (Institute for Local Government contract.)
  • Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling
    • Implementation materials for Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (AB 1826) including an overview of the law and affected businesses, FAQs, annual reporting, enforcement approach, program needs assessment tool, and local examples including C&D, food donation, green material ordinances and green/food waste programs.
  • Phase Out Green Waste Alternative Daily Cover (ADC)
  • Land Application of Compostable Materials
  • Organics Regulatory Changes
    • Informal regulatory process for implementing SB 1383 (Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) begins in 2017. This landmark bill establishes targets to achieve a 50% reduction in the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025. The bill also sets a target to reduce edible food disposal by at least 20% by 2025. For informal workshop details and materials see the SLCP webpage.
      Staff contact: SLCP.organics@calrecycle.ca.gov
    • Compostable Materials Handling and In-Vessel Digestion Regulations. The regulations became effective January 1, 2016 and the formal process was initiated in October 2013. The rulemaking information has been archived.
      Staff contact: Martin Perez
      • February-March 2016. Classroom-based instruction on recently adopted regulations affecting compostable materials handling and in-vessel digestion operations and facilities. PowerPoint presentation materials available on website. Timing for second round of training yet to be determined.
    • "Environmental Impacts of Direct Land Application of Uncomposted Green and Woody Wastes on Air and Water Quality." Results of a yearlong field and laboratory study of seven facilities regarding greenhouse gas/ VOC emissions and the migration of chemical constituents into the soil/soil water from chipped and ground uncomposted organic materials applied directly to agricultural lands. (Contractor: University of California at Davis.)
      Staff contact: Crystal Reul-Chen
  • Grants and Loans to Support Organics Recycling and Food Waste Prevention

2. Expanding the Recycling/Manufacturing Infrastructure

3. Exploring New Models for State and Local Funding of Materials Management Programs

  • Local Funding Mechanisms
    Staff Contact: Chris Bria
    • "Local Funding and Siting: Case Studies, Samples, and Strategies." Contract with the Institute for Local Government included a series of workshops and guides. Links provided below and others, are available on ILG’s Recycling Resource Center. 
      • March 19, 2013. Financing local programs and siting recycling infrastructure.
    • Series of webinars to explore the traditional and innovative ways that cities and counties across the state are funding local recycling programs.
      • November 4, 2014 webinar explores effect of Propositions 26 and 218 on the financing of community solid waste and recycling programs.
      • December 2, 2014 webinar. Overview of funding mechanisms used in California including: user fees, franchise fees, tipping fees and sales of recyclable materials, and; Kern County case study.
      • January 29, 2015 (Oakland, CA) and February 25, 2015 (Lakewood, CA), Financing recycling facilities including tax exempt bonds, grants or loans from California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA), California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) and CalRecycle.
    • Multiple workshops cosponsored by CalRecycle with HF&H Consultants to explore managing rates related to collection, processing and disposal of discards.
      • October 9, 2013 (Oakland)
      • November 7, 2013 (Lakewood)
      • December 10, 2013 (Sacramento--CalEPA Building)
    • Financing Recycling Programs and Facilities: Understanding Options and Resources. The first half of this report provides an overview of current methods used by local governments to fund their recycling programs.
    • The True Cost of Recycling: How California Communities are Financing and Siting Recycling Infrastructure: Seven city and county case stories on financing local programs including consumer education, long term rate stabilization policies, and charging the true cost of all services.  Siting stories for anaerobic digestion and other recycling facilities in 7 cities and counties.(September 2015)
    • Survey prepared by Institute for Local Government as part of their CalRecycle contract to gather information about how local agencies finance solid waste and recycling programs as well as best practices related to facility siting and planning.
  • State Level Funding
    • Landfill Tipping Fees in California (February 2015). Report discusses complexity and variation in local, regional and statewide tipping fees and compares California to other states and the European Union. Report also maps and compares California tipping fee data by region, by ownership (public/private), disposal tonnage, rural/urban location and proximity to other landfills. (Background for October 2014 presentation.)
    • California’s Environmental Goals and Funding Waste Management Infrastructure: Multiple workshops to explore the state investment and partnerships needed to achieve California’s 75 percent recycling goal while sustaining CalRecycle’s ability to manage the handling of solid waste in California.

4. Promoting State Procurement of Post-Consumer Recycled Content Products

Background technical paper developed to identify critical issues in development of Waste Sector Plan (State Procurement--Draft) (August 2013).

5. Promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

EPR is a policy that shifts costs and responsibilities for product discards to producers and others who directly benefit. This page summarizes the EPR framework and Program News.
Contact staff at EPR@calrecycle.ca.gov.

  • Mattress Recovery and Recycling

    The Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act requires CalRecycle to establish recycling goals in consultation with the mattress recycling organization.

    • August 15, 2017: Review draft mattress recycling baseline and mattress recycling goals.

6. Source Reduction

  • Educating the Next Generation
    • Utilizing public-private partnerships, the Education and the Environment Initiative provides K-12 teachers with training and curriculum materials that use the environment as context for teaching required science and social studies lessons. Homepage summarizes the program and current activities.

7. Commercial Recycling

  • Mandatory Commercial Recycling
    • New state requirements (AB 341) for most California businesses and public entities to begin recycling programs by July 1, 2012 if they generate four cubic yards or more of solid waste per week. Also applies to multifamily residential projects (those with five or more units).
  • Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling
    • Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (AB 1826) requires California businesses to start recycling their organic waste by April 1, 2016, depending on the amount of waste they generate each week.

8. Other Products

Documents

  • AB 341 Report to the Legislature. The report outlines five priority strategies and three additional focus areas that can be pursued by the Department, Administration and/or Legislature  to meet California’s goal to recycle 75 percent of its’ solid waste by 2020.  Preparation of the report was directed by the Legislature with the passage of AB 341. Includes recommendations for statutory and regulatory changes as well as updates and other recommendations. (August 2015)
  • State of Recycling and Disposal: Report summarizes solid waste disposal, recycling and composting in California, particularly with respect to implementing the statewide 75 percent recycling goal.
  • State of Recycling. Report summarizes recycling and composting infrastructure in California, particularly with respect to implementing the statewide 75 percent recycling goal.
  • State of Disposal. Report discusses solid waste disposal in California including the history of solid waste disposal in California since 1989, the disposal infrastructure, material flows within and out of California, tracking disposal, disposal fees and funding.
  • California Exports of Recyclable Materials. Reports provide details regarding recyclables exported from California’s ports, the amount shipped, and their value for various years.

  • AB 341’s 75 Percent Goal and Potential New Recycling Jobs in California by 2020. Report reviews prior studies and, using current disposal tonnage and exports, forecasts job creation (manufacturing and collection/processing sectors) as a result of achieving 75 percent goal. (Background for April 16, 2013 presentation).

  • Creating New Jobs through Increased Recycling, Processing and Remanufacturing. Presentation reviewed prior state, regional and national studies to forecast future California jobs. (April 16, 2013)