California governor approves organic waste regulation bill

California Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed an assembly bill into law designed to give the California Department of Resources and Recycling Recovery (CalRecycle) more oversight into reaching the state’s diversion goals, a report by The Reporter says.

In 2016, legislation that asked residents to divert 50 percent of organic waste from landfills by 2020, and 75 percent by 2025, passed and added to the existing waste reduction laws that include increased recycling efforts and safely handling hazardous waste.

Currently, CalRecycle is required to review annual diversion reports put together by municipal officials at least once every two to four years. Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572) will require CalRecycle to review these reports at least once every two years starting Jan. 1, 2018.

Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Solano, said in the report that AB 1572 is designed to ensure CalRecycle is effectively implementing the waste management programs set to aid in diversion goals. Aguiar-Curry wrote the bill. She represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes Lake and Napa counties, parts of Colusa, Solano and Sonoma counties and Yolo County except for West Sacramento.