SB 589
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THIRD READING
Bill No:
Author:
Amended:
Vote:
SB 589
Lowenthal (D), et al
5/18/11
21
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/2/11
AYES: Simitian, Strickland, Blakeslee, Hancock, Kehoe, Lowenthal,
Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT:
Household hazardous waste
SOURCE:
Author
DIGEST: This bill clarifies that hazardous waste facilities that accept only
universal wastes do not have to have a hazardous waste facility permit as
long as they are managing those wastes in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations.
ANALYSIS: Existing law requires hazardous waste facilities to operate
under hazardous waste facilities permits issued by the Department of Toxic
Substances Control and exempts from this requirement a recycle-only
household hazardous waste collection facility if the facility meets certain
requirements, including that the public agency, or its contractor, that intends
to operate a household hazardous waste collection facility, submit a
certification regarding the operation of the facility to the certified unified
program agency.
Comments
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SB 589
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According to the author’s office, California’s Universal Waste Rule allows
individuals and businesses to transport, handle and recycle certain common
hazardous wastes, termed universal wastes, in a manner that differs from the
requirements for most hazardous wastes. The more relaxed requirements for
managing universal wastes were adopted to ensure that they are managed
safely and are not disposed of in the trash. This bill clarifies that as long as
those requirements are followed, the facility is not required to have a
hazardous waste facility permit.
Fluorescent lamps. According to the author’s office, current laws and
regulations to reduce energy consumption have been successful at spurring
technological advances in lighting. The use of fluorescent lamps has many
environmental benefits: they save energy, last much longer than
incandescent lamps, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and decrease
production of greenhouse gases. However, even “green” lamps contain a
small amount of mercury, a potent neurotoxin. Since 2006, California
households have not been able to legally dispose of fluorescent lamps in the
trash. Fluorescent lamps and other mercury-containing devices are banned
from landfills in California.
Previous/Related Legislation
AB 1109 (Huffman) Chapter 534, Statutes of 2007, The California Lighting
Efficiency and Toxics Reduction Act requires the Department of Toxic and
Substance Control, in coordination with the Department of Resource
Recycling and Recovery to convene a task force to consider and make
recommendations, on or before September 1, 2008, on methods of
collection, recycling, education, outreach, labeling, and designations for endof-life residential fluorescent lamps, which are considered hazardous waste
upon disposal. One of the items that enjoyed broad consensus among
members of the Task Force is that collection, recycling, and public education
elements should be administered by an independent third-party organization
(TPO), unless the local utility opted to administer the program. The TPO is
responsible for education and outreach programs, as well as collection,
transportation, and recycling of lamps. The TPO also collects data from
retailers and/or manufacturers on lamp sales in California and from retailers
and recyclers on the quantity of lamps collected for recycling in the state.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
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SB 589
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SUPPORT: (Verified 5/15/11)
OSRAM Sylvania, Inc.
DLW:do 5/18/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
SEE ABOVE
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