CAC meeting 1/8/26 thursday 12 live or virtual
rican...@aol.com
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE/ CRRA San Diego Chapter and Zero Waste San Diego Public Meeting MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA
WHEN: Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
This meeting will be in-person with the option for virtual attendance
PLEASE NOTE: floor and room change for in-person attendance County of San Diego, Department of Public Works
5510 Overland Ave
3rd Floor, Conference Room #371
(For access - please ring the C&D bell located at the County Surveyor counter) San Diego, CA 92123
MEETING LINK: Join the meeting now
Phone call in through Teams:
Call +1 619-343-2539 and enter the meeting ID 299 560 363 771#
Contact: Steve Weihe 858-694-2559
Submit Agenda Items to Chair Rick Anthony and County Staff Steve Weihe 2 weeks prior to the next meeting: RicAn...@aol.com and Steve...@sdcounty.ca.gov
Should you require any accommodations to attend the meeting, please contact Steve Weihe
Agenda
1. Welcome, Introductions and Attendance
2. Approval, Minutes December 2025
3. Chair’s Report
4. Staff Reports
a. Cities
b. County
c. Haulers
d. Non-Profits
5. Public Comments and Communication
6. Regional Planning Issues
a. Wasting Fee
7. Legislative Update
8. Roundtable
9. Adjournment
Minutes
Thursday, December 11, from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
1. Welcome, Introductions and Attendance (*in-person attendee)
a. Chair
i. Ric Anthony, * Zero Waste San Diego
ii. Stephen Mergener, Zero Waste San Diego*
b. Guests
i. Steve Weihe, County of San Diego*
ii. Bryce Jacoubowski, I Love A Clean San Diego
iii. Ani Putnam, City of San Diego
iv. Lotte Phoummavong, Goodwill San Diego
v. Ron Askeland, Sierra Club/resident
vi. Helen Kagan, resident
vii. Oscar Gittemeier, City of San Diego
viii. Kirk Kinder, County of San Diego
2. Approval, minutes from November 2025
a. Approved
3. Chair’s Report (by Stephen Mergener)
a. National Recycling Coalition conference took place in October 2025
i. Reuse and Repair focus
b. Chair attended the Zero Waste USA conference
c. Chair visited Turkey for zero waste conference
i. 500 attendees
ii. March 30 was declared zero waste day by the United Nations
1. Ric spoke on the zero waste movement
d. Zero Waste Symposium - https://zerowastesandiego.org/events-main/#symposium
4. Staff reports
a. City of San Diego
i. Outreach
1. Measure B
a. https://youtu.be/8Y3WVSe4Tk4?si=NISkKmFckMtn_pEh
b. Trash bins should be rolled out citywide in the next 6 months (subject to change)
c. Light blue bins will be delivered after full roll out of grey (trash) bins
d. Link to check container delivery - https://getitdone.sandiego.gov/ContainerDeliveryLookup
e. For missed pick up requests - Containers | City of San Diego Official Website
f. City-serviced residents have 30 days to adjust service after they receive their grey containers. If requests are made after 30 days, will have to wait until 7/1/26 to change service.
g. Light blue recycle bin delivery likely to start in Spring (beginning with Monday customers first).
h. Around 80% of the 20,000 parcels that will need to sign up for private waste services have transferred off of City service.
A. Notice of Violations (NOVs) for those still not in compliance will start soon (by mail)
i. https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/trash-service-updates
2. Commercial business outreach
a. Started the week of 12/8 and will run through the end of December.
A. Contractor will be providing guides for recycling compliance, signage and slim jims containers as well as showcasing videos for staff training.
3. Door-to-door outreach
a. Multifamily complexes (MFCs)
A. Marketing materials are pending (Ani can share once available).
B. 6,000 units completed to date with a 24% open door rate (kitchen pails were left for residents).
1. FAQs from residents
a. Where is the organic waste bin?
2. Barriers – “ick,” what to place in the bin.
4. Route reviews
a. City service (trash, recycling, organic waste) comprises around 600 individual routes.
A. Code Compliance officers will begin lid flips (inspecting waste bins for contamination, incorrect materials, etc) leaving “tags” on the inspected carts.
B. Has several “tag” designs, including OOPS, DO NOT collect and others
1. Code will reinspect if a DO NOT collect tag is left
5. Events
a. https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/events
6. I Love A Clean San Diego
a. Contract has begun (5 year contract)
A. Public Landfill tours are back! https://www.cleansd.org/events/miramar-landfill-bus-tours-12/
B. Compost and mulch giveaways - https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/composting-events
7. Christmas Tree recycling program
a. Lid will need to completely close (green bin) to be collected
b. 16 drop off locations (12/26-1/16) - https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/events/christmas
A. Miramar Greenery is not a free option
8. Attendees discussed
a. Oscar G.
A. Library outreach event February 24th at 5pm
1. Resource fair with an author talk at 6pm – https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/copy-black-history-month-author-talk-471678
b. Ron A.
A. Discussed how newly delivered grey bins may have lids that are not fitting but close properly after a day or two (likely due to stacking from delivery).
B. Firesafe grants – asked if City could assist with large bulky items found during brush clearing/chipping.
1. City provided contacts to assist with coordination
c. Stephen M.
A. Asked about the “reserve” fund that is mentioned in Measure B.
1. Ani will ask and report back at a future CAC meeting.
B. For the route reviews - lid flips are likely to occur between 8 AM and 11 AM.
1. 20% of each route will be inspected yearly.
d. Helen
A. Asked about route optimization software
1. City is currently using such software
b. County of San Diego
i. Site Visits
1. Actively visiting Tier I/II businesses (under SB 1383), commercial as well as multi-family residences to assist with recycling and organic waste educational outreach.
ii. Waivers
1. Reviews continue both on organic waste waiver exemptions and self-haul forms for recyclables.
iii. Van wrap
1. Working on finalizing graphics to wrap our County van in Recycle Right and/or Organic Waste recycling messaging.
iv. Events
a. A Residential Cleanup event was held in Julian on Saturday, 10/11 at the Julian Library/High School
A. Of the twenty-two trucks/bins/roll off containers filled, fifteen of those were for donation and/or recycling.
1. The event resulted in the collection of approximately 79,810 pounds of mixed material, with 33,616 pounds successfully diverted from the landfill — representing a 42% diversion rate.
b. An HHW and E-Waste Collection event was held at Borrego Springs High School Saturday, 11/1
A. Results – 162 vehicles, tonnage report pending
c. Residential Cleanup event in Fallbrook Saturday, 11/8
A. Results – 375 vehicles
1. The event resulted in the collection of approximately 81,605 pounds of mixed material, with 54,044 pounds successfully diverted from the landfill — representing a 66% diversion rate.
v. Outreach
1. OOPS tag procurement
a. Have selected a contractor and finalizing the procurement process. Contract should be live in January.
A. Will monitor all three-waste stream and “tag” bins with contamination, targeting multifamily, single family and commercial sectors.
2. Continuing to give out kitchen pails to multifamily residents to help with the convenience of storage/transport. Bringing to tabling events.
3. Newly revised MFC bag designs have arrived!
4. Looking into agricultural plastics recycling options.
a. If you know of any farms/contacts, send them our way.
5. Closed Loop Partners presentation at the November Regional Recycling Working Group
a. Scaling Reuse in California: Innovation firm is launching new activations to expand reusable packaging systems statewide, building on successful pilots in cities like Denver, Tucson, and Petaluma.
b. Major Brand Collaboration: Led by the NextGen Consortium, with participation from major companies including Starbucks, McDonald’s, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Wendy’s, and Yum Brands; San Diego will host the first phase in 2026.
c. Pilot Insights & Focus Areas: Key learnings from Petaluma are being applied to larger cities, with a focus on increasing return rates, lowering costs per unit, and maintaining strong community engagement.
d. Infrastructure & Partnerships: Reuse systems will be deployed across diverse sites (e.g., schools, airports, stadiums), using purple bins and cups as standardized branding; Solana Center will support local implementation and outreach.
vi. Self-Haul
1. Some businesses have decided to stop self-hauling recyclables (too much work) and have switched back to cart/dumpster service.
c. Haulers
i. EDCO – no report
d. Non-profits
i. Zero Waste San Diego (ZWSD)
1. Zero Waste Symposium 2026
a. Tentatively scheduled for February 18, 2026 (13th annual event) at the County of San Diego Chambers.
2. Fix-It Clincs
a. https://zerowastesandiego.org/sdfixitclinic/
A. Last one in 2025 will be in Bonita.
ii. Goodwill
1. Having some issues with CalRecycle and DTSC regarding paperwork for recycling TVs.
a. Helen – would photos help for documentation?
iii. I Love A Clean San Diego
1. Events https://www.cleansd.org/events/
2. America Recycles Day (ARD) was held at James Dukes Elementary in Ramona.
a. 484 students rotated between recycling trivia, a behind the scenes look and video of a local Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), Recycle Relay and vermicomposting stations.
iv. Sierra Club
1. Ron
a. Wasting Fee
A. A second meeting with County staff was held recently.
B. With no direction provided by the Board of Supervisors (BOS) at this time, supporters would need to reach out to their Board office for updates.
v. League of Women Voters– No report
5. Public Comments and Communication
a. Attendees discussed
1. Helen
a. Discussing illegal dumping issues and possible solutions.
6. Regional Planning issues
a. Wasting Fee discussion (from Chair)
i. See above report from Sierra Club
7. Legislative update (https://www.calpsc.org/legislation)
New 2025 bills introduced:
a. AB-762, Single-use Vaping Devices Sales Ban
This bill would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2026, a person from selling, distributing, or offering for sale a new or refurbished disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device in this state. The bill would define a “disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device” to mean a vaporization device that is not designed or intended to be reused, as specified.
Two-Year bill.
b. AB-823, Solid waste: plastic microbeads.
This bill would, on and after January 1, 2027, prohibit a person from selling, distributing, or offering for promotional purposes in this state a cleaning product, as defined, or a personal care product in a rinse-off product, containing one ppm or more by weight of plastic microbeads that are used as an abrasive, as specified. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2028, prohibit a person from selling, distributing, or offering for promotional purposes in this state a coating, as defined, cleaning product, or personal care product, that contains one ppm or more by weight of plastic microbeads that are not used as an abrasive. Vetoed.
c. AB-864, Hazardous waste: solar photovoltaic modules
This bill would exempt solar photovoltaic modules not identified as hazardous waste and treated as universal waste, as defined, from state hazardous waste regulations, if transferred to a designated recycler for legitimate recycling.
Two-Year bill.
d. SB-45, Recycling: beverage containers: tethered plastic caps.
The bill would require, on and after January 1, 2027, beverage containers, as defined, intended for sale in this state, to have a cap that is tethered to the container that prevents the separation of the cap from the container when the cap is removed from the container by the consumer. (Rick spoke on this one).
Dead bill.
Per Ric – looking at local ordinances for coastal cities
e. SB-501, Household Hazardous Waste Producer Responsibility Act
This bill would create a producer responsibility program for products containing household hazardous waste and would require a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to ensure the safe and convenient collection and management of covered products at no cost to consumers or local governments. The bill would define “covered product” to mean a consumer product that is ignitable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive, or that meets other specified criteria.
Current Status: May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. 5/23/2025.
f. SB-561 Hazardous waste: Emergency Distress Flare Safe Disposal Act. (Marine Flares)
This bill would create a manufacturer responsibility program for the safe and proper management of emergency distress flares. The bill would define “covered product” to include certain pyrotechnic devices that meet the criteria for household hazardous waste, as specified. The bill would require a manufacturer of a covered product, individually or through a manufacturer responsibility organization, to develop and management of covered products, as specified.
Two-year bill
g. SB-615, Vehicle Traction Batteries
This bill would require a battery supplier, as defined, to be responsible for, among other duties, ensuring the responsible end-of-life management of a vehicle traction battery if it is removed from a vehicle that is still in service, as provided, or if the vehicle traction battery is offered or returned to its battery supplier, and reporting information regarding the sale, transfer, or receipt of a vehicle traction battery or module to the department, as provided.
Two-Year bill
h. AB-80 Carpet recycling: product stewardship for carpet: fines
The act includes a product stewardship for carpet program and a successor carpet producer responsibility program. The product stewardship for carpet program requires a manufacturer of carpets sold in this state, individually or through a carpet stewardship organization, to submit a carpet stewardship plan to the department. The program authorizes the department to administratively impose a civil penalty of $25,000 per day on any person in violation of the program if the violation is intentional, knowing, or negligent.
Current Status: Passed Assembly; in Senate. In committee: Held under submission.
i. SB-353 Income tax: credits: food banks.
The Personal Income Tax Law
and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by
those laws, including, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2017,
and before January 1, 2027, a credit for qualified taxpayers in an
amount equal to 15% of the qualified value of fresh fruits or vegetables and
specified raw agricultural products or processed foods donated to a food bank.
This bill would extend the authorization for those tax credits indefinitely.
Two-Year bill.
j. AB-998 Household hazardous waste: vape pens.
Under this bill, a vape pen confiscated by a school as contraband is presumed to have been generated by a household and does not lose its status as household hazardous waste when properly managed and disposed of at a household hazardous waste collection facility or through a household hazardous waste collection program.
Current Status: Passed Assembly; in Senate. In committee: Held under submission.
k. AB-1148 Food packaging: hazardous chemicals.
This bill would authorize the Department of Toxic Substances Control to adopt regulations to restrict or prohibit the distribution, sale, or offering for sale in the state of food packaging that contains intentionally added antimony trioxide, bisphenols, or ortho-phthalates, as specified.
Two-Year bill.
l. Bills vetoed by the Governor (previous session):
i. SB 1066 -- EPR for Marine Flares
ii. SB 615 – End-of-life management for vehicle traction batteries
8. Roundtable
a. S. 1194 Recycling and Composting A87ccountability Act
S. 1189 Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2024 Passed Senate on