A legislative hearing in Ventura County focused on the process of
diverting organic materials from landfills, in part to reduce
methane greenhouse gas emissions. Recent legislation has
significantly increased California’s organic waste diversion
targets, but private, public and non-profit advocates have
expressed concerns about hitting those targets due to
California’s lack of facilities and infrastructure to properly
process the diverted organic waste.
CSAC staff attended the hearing hosted by the chairs of the
Assembly Select Committee on Waste Reduction and Recycling in the
21st Century, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty and Assemblymember
Jacqui Irwin. The discussion ranged from issues with permitting
compost facilities and potential increase in the tipping fee, to
the development of secondary markets for goods created from
organic waste byproducts. The select committee is expected to
meet again in January in Sacramento.
