The California state budget crunch has cities scrambling for money. Funds for existing programs are being slashed which leaves little hope for new programs.

The state legislature, however, continues to come up with bills that will help bring growth and stability to recycling programs. Now, doesn’t that sound like something a politician would say?

Senate Bill 23 (Sher) would increase the California Redemption Value (CRV) on beverage containers from 2.5 cents per container to five cents (ten cents on containers 24 ounces and larger). To date, only 16 percent of plastic water bottles are recycled which means three million plastic bottles are thrown into the trash each day. This updated bottle bill will boost recycling levels and bring more money into buyback programs and curbside recycling programs.

I’d like Senator Sher to add to his bill. The state needs to set standards for what materials can be used for beverage containers. They need to require bottlers to phase out all plastics bottles except #1 PET and #2 HDPE and phase out juice boxes, drink pouches and aseptic containers. If any container cannot be recycled within our state, then those companies should not be allowed to sell their beverage here. Until all bottlers meet these standards, they should be required to pay a tax to help cities fund litter cleanup programs.

Assembly Bill 586 (Koretz) would establish a two-cent environmental fee on disposable bags and cups to support the cleanup and recycling of litter, with a special focus on marine debris. The fee would cover all disposable bags (paper & plastic) except those that have at least 40% Post Consumer content. It includes just about every kind of bag except trash bags.

AB 586 also taxes paper and plastic disposable cups; the very ones that are so freely handed out at McDonalds, Starbucks or other fast food chains.

Last fall, I wrote a column about Ireland’s 15-cent plastic bag tax. After that tax was enacted, Irish citizens reduced their dependency on plastic bags by 90 percent. Still, nearly $3.4 million was collected on bags given to customers. That money was earmarked for protecting the environment.

Other Interesting bills include:

SB 511 (Figueroa) would require producer responsibility for recycling mercury laden fluorescent lamps.

SB 517 (Karnette) requires every rigid plastic packaging container to be made of biodegradable plastic.

SB 20 (Sher) is an E-Waste Recycling bill that would require producers of electronics to develop and implement a plan for the collection, processing and recycling of electronic waste.

I urge you to write your legislator to voice your support of these bills. For more information on current recycling legislation contact Californians Against Waste at www.cawrecycles.org or (916) 443-5422.

WELCOME NEW ACCOUNT GROUPS

The VALCORE Board would like to welcome two new account groups: Mare Island Historic Park Foundation and MIT Academy E.A.S.T. project. The public is invited to bring in their CRV containers to our recycling center, go through the buy back line, then donate their refund to one of our 30 local groups raising money through recycling.

BACKYARD COMPOSTING CLASS.

Vallejo’s next free composting class will be held at VALCORE on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to Noon. Two BioStack bins will be given away and each participant will receive a composting book. For more information, call 707 55-EARTH.