To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Supporting the Creation of a Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the attached resolution supporting the creation of a statewide commission to address the significant challenges to California's recycling markets bought about by China's waste management policies; and
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return a fully executed certified copy of the attached resolution to the Department of Public Works for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Not applicable
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, cities and counties were required to divert 50 percent of all solid waste out of landfills by Jan. 1, 2000, through source reduction, recycling and composting activities. California Assembly Bill 341 also established a statewide goal that not less than 75 percent of solid waste generated be source reduced, recycled or composted by the year 2020.
California has been largely successful in achieving and making progress towards these and other related recycling goals over recent years. However, recent changes in China's waste management policies have significantly disrupted California's recycling industry by restricting foreign imports of recyclable materials and requiring reduced contamination levels in recycling streams. These changes are collectively referred to as the "National Sword" policy and will ultimately close off Chinese and Asian markets to California's scrap imports completely by 2020. Such markets have served as the foundation for California's recycling system as the export of recyclable materials is a key component of California's recycling infrastructure.
Significant market disruptions for recyclable materials have a direct impact on the ability of California's local governments to meet state-mandated recycling goals....
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