Recycling Policy

From: Manuel A. Esteban, President

Subject: Recycling Policy

RECYCLING POLICY

Background

Assembly Bill 75 (Strom-Martin, 1999) took effect on January 1, 2000. This bill added new provisions to the Public Resources Code (PRC), mandating that each state agency develop a waste management plan and divert specified volumes of waste from entering the landfill. The University is required to

• Develop an integrated waste management plan by July 1, 2000.
• Divert at least 25 percent of its solid waste from landfills or transformation facilities by January 1, 2002, and 50 percent by January 1, 2004.

Policy

The University intends to meet the requirements of AB 75 and to continue to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste materials whenever feasible. The University has developed the Campus Conservation Committee (CCC) to review our existing waste management procedures and to make recommendations to campus administration on ways to further reduce, reuse, and recycle waste products. The CCC will also develop an educational program to promote campus waste reduction activities.

The CCC shall develop a waste management plan pursuant to the requirements of AB 75. The plan will be reviewed and approved by the cabinet prior to the July 1, 2000 deadline and every year thereafter. The waste management plan will quantify the amount of solid waste currently being landfilled and identify strategies to reduce this waste stream to meet the 25 percent and 50 percent reduction targets. The plan will also identify strategies to exceed the waste reduction targets, where feasible.

The Committee shall update the waste reduction plan annually and describe waste reduction strategies that have been investigated and implemented and those being considered for future implementation. Each waste reduction strategy should be accompanied with a cost/benefit analysis, a record of the quantity of waste generated, and other documentation that supports implementation or rejection of the strategy.

The Committee will develop and submit an annual report to the cabinet prior to January 1 of each year that describes the waste reduction measures implemented and provides a list of proposed programs for future implementation, including budget requests when necessary.

The Committee will develop an educational component to the plan that is designed to inform and educate faculty, staff, and students in various campus waste reduction measures. The Committee will seek to expand existing recycling programs through the dissemination of information to campus personnel. The Committee will also seek input from other campus entities on ways to expand and improve upon waste reduction efforts.