cac thursday
rican...@aol.com
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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
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Agenda
1. Welcome, Introductions and Attendance
2. Approval, Minutes March 2026
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, April 9, from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
1. Welcome, Introductions and Attendance (*in-person attendee)
a. Chair
i. Ric Anthony - Zero Waste San Diego*
b. Member
i. Stephen Mergener - Zero Waste San Diego*
c. Guests
i. Steve Weihe - County of San Diego*
ii. Natalia King-Quick, County of San Diego
iii. Kirk Kinder, County of San Diego*
iv. Ani Putnam - City of San Diego
v. Lotte Phoummavong - Goodwill San Diego
vi. Helen Kagan - resident
vii. Gabriel Schiering - I Love A Clean San Diego
viii. Ron Askeland, Sierra Club San Diego
2. Approval, minutes from March 2026
a. Approved
3. Chair’s Report (Ric Anthony)
a. California (state) has approved a zero waste plan
i. Suggesting that CAC keeps an eye on the outcome
b. Zero Waste Forum will be taking place in Turkey – June 2026 https://globalzerowasteforum.org/
i. Event is pending due to world events
c. Zero Waste USA conference taking place in October - https://zerowasteusa.org/event/national-zero-waste-conference-2025/
d. Zero Waste Forum taking place in Park City Utah April 20th - https://zerowasteforum.org/
e. CRRA will be 8/30 – 9/2 in San Diego - https://www.crra.com/conference
4. Staff reports
a. City of San Diego
i. Outreach
1. Measure B
a. https://youtu.be/8Y3WVSe4Tk4?si=NISkKmFckMtn_pEh
b. Link to check container delivery https://getitdone.sandiego.gov/ContainerDeliveryLookup
c. For missed pick up requests - Containers | City of San Diego Official Website
A. Starting to deliver light blue recycling bins
B. Still removing outstanding black bins (can report on Get It done app/website - https://getitdone.sandiego.gov/esdgid/container-removal-request)
C. City is no longer servicing the black trash bin
D. Weekly recycling collection will begin 7/1/27
E. 30 day window to change service (# of bins, size, etc) will open 7/1/26
F. Bulky item pick up will begin 7/1/27 – details TBD
1. Service will be included as part of the monthly fee
a. Definition of “bulky” is pending as well as how often pick up will be.
b. Considering partnering with local donation outlets
c. Landfill passes may be an option (TBD)
d. Mailers sent out to properties that need to switch to non-City service (franchise hauler) - https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/trash-service-updates/transition-to-private
A. Notice of Violations (NOVs) – final notice sent to 1,278 properties; citations may begin soon
2. Tax File Recycling (shredding event) will be held on 4/16 to 4/23 at the Miramar Recycling center - https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/tax-files-recycling-event.pdf
a. Free for City of San Diego residents; open 7 am to 4:30 pm
3. HHW (Household Hazardous Waste) facility is now open Wednesdays and Saturdays by appt only - https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/ep/hazardous
a. Attendees mentioned that Chula Vista is allowing residents to pick up good, usable items for reuse (HHW)
4. Resource Recovery Park
a. No update; still working with consultants
5. CalRecycle grant
a. For outreach to residential and commercial properties
A. Contracts with two Feed Recovery Organizations (FROs)
B. Sub-contracting study on FROs in the City
6. Plan to start collecting tires near HHW/Mattresses drop off location at Miramar Landfill (details TBD)
7. Press event will be held on Wed 4/22 (at mattress recycling location at Miramar Lanfill) – Mattress Recycling Council celebrating 10 year anniversary of mattress recycling in CA.
8. Fix It Clinics
a. Upcoming Events – San Diego Fixit Clinic
9. Events
a. https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/events
10. Staff changes
a. Numerous staff changing roles at ESD
b. Two retirements in the coming months
b. County of San Diego
i. Site Visits
1. Actively visiting Tier I/II businesses and Food Recovery Organizations/FROs (under SB 1383), commercial as well as multi-family residences to assist with recycling and organic waste educational outreach.
2. Visiting more schools to check in on recycling/lunch sorting
ii. Waivers
1. Reviews continue both on organic waste waiver exemptions and self-haul forms for recyclables.
iii. Van wrap
1. Pushing off until 2027 (getting a new PHEV)
iv. OOPS Tags
1. Getting close to final approval
v. Events
a. Community Clean up Event in from Saturday, 2/28 (Alpine)
A. Will have total collected tonnage to share next month
1. 207 vehicles attended
b. HHW collection event in Valley Center on Saturday 4/4
A. Totals are pending
c. Community Clean up event in Warner Springs on 4/25 https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/dpw/SOLID_WASTE_PLANNING_and_RECYCLING/recycling_events/4.25.2026%20County%20of%20San%20Diego%20Residential%20Waste%20Collection%20Event%20Flyer.pdf
d. Mulch giveaway – Potrero County Park – Saturday, April 11th 9 AM to 3 PM or until mulch runs out
A. Additional compost and mulch giveaways will be held in late April/early May (details pending; will be posted to our Events page).
B. https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/recycling/Events.html
e. Across nine Community Collection events conducted between 2024 and 2025, the program collected 555,935 pounds of material and achieved a 65% diversion rate—successfully redirecting 359,700 pounds from landfill through recycling, donation, and organics processing.
1.
a.
vi. Outreach
1. N&R mailer
a. In final design (organic waste recycling is the topic)
b. Will be mailed out to all 200K+ unincorporated residents, likely in early May 2026
2. Continuing to give out kitchen pails to multifamily residents to help with the convenience of storage/transport. Bringing to tabling events.
3. Looking into agricultural plastics recycling options
a. Any farms/contacts, please email Steve
4. Working on horse manure diversion options
5. Learned about free curbside textiles collection possibility
a. Eco World Trading is presenting at the Regional Recycling Working Group in May, if you’d like more info.
6. Regional Collaboration on messaging – any partners?
a. Zero Waste San Diego is interested
7. Solana Center
a. Hosted their first OMO (Organic Materials Ordinance) workshop in Ramona, next on in Fallbrook on May 9th - https://www.solanacenter.org/events/how-to-save-money-and-compost-manure-in-unincorporated-san-diego-county
b. Preventing Food Waste at Home Webinar 4/9 6-7pm - https://www.solanacenter.org/events/all-about-composting-with-worms-workshop-rancho-san-diego
c. Gardening Practices to Save Water Workshop in Lakeside at the Library 4/18 10 am-12pm - https://www.solanacenter.org/events/gardening-practices-that-save-water-workshop
d. Raising Backyard Chickens workshop in Fallbrook 5/2 10 am -12 pm at D'Vine Path - https://www.solanacenter.org/events/raising-backyard-chickens-workshop-fallbrook
vii. Self-Haul
1. Some businesses have decided to stop self-hauling recyclables (too much work) and have switched back to cart/dumpster service.
viii. Attendees asked
1. Where are the mulch and compost events being held?
a. Throughout the unincorporated county; check or events page for details.
2. Establishing permanent locations an option?
a. Unknown – will report back next CAC.
ix. Natalia – Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice (County of San Diego)
1. From Waste to Worth – working on first Regional Circular Economy Assessment
a. Public engagement page is live – https://engage.sandiegocounty.gov/circularity
b. Material flow analysis
c. Identify top areas/materials to focus on
A. Textiles/C&D/furniture (bulky items) and plastics (not limited to this)
d. What is the effort required and impact
e. Regional program
f. Other cities, non-profits, etc are welcome to provide input/collaborate
2. Attendee questions
a. Is this directly related to CAP?
A. Not directly but lots of crossover
5. Haulers
a. No report
6. Non-profits
a. Zero Waste San Diego (ZWSD)
i. Planning for the Zero Waste Symposium next year
ii. Fix-It Clinics
1. https://zerowastesandiego.org/sdfixitclinic/
iii. Reuse and Repair Collective
1. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 AM to 3 PM
2. Resources include a tool shed and tool lending library, sewing machines, bike repair, community workshop area, upcycle area
a. Have worked with Positive Phee, Be Creative and Clik Bitz
b. Goodwill
i. Looking to partner on e-waste/donation collections
ii. Open to tours for the group (email Lotte)
c. I Love A Clean San Diego
i. Events https://www.cleansd.org/events/
1. Hosting clothing swap events with the City of San Diego and La Mesa
2. April 25th annual Creek to Bay clean up event - https://cleansd.samaritan.com/custom/501/creek_to_bay
3. May 2nd - public landfill tour at Miramar Landfill- https://www.cleansd.org/events/miramar-landfill-bus-tours-15/
4. May 9th Compost giveaway at Snap Dragon Stadium - https://www.cleansd.org/events/compost-and-mulch-giveaway-5-9-at-snapdragon-stadium/
5. Attendee discussion
a. Zone Zero for combustible materials near homes
A. Requiring 1/8” openings in the screens to prevent embers from entering.
d. Sierra Club
i. Ron
1. Fire Safe Council
a. Zone Zero presentation
2. Community Cleanup sponsored by Fire Safe Council
a. Will have dumpsters for organic waste and trash
A. 4/18/26 - Rolling Hills Elementary School parking lot from 9 AM to 2 PM
3. Save Our Soil
a. 3K Walk-A-Thon
4. 4/22 - SDSU Sustainability Summit - https://sustainable.sdsu.edu/highlights/news/sustainability-articles/sustainabilitysummit
5. Wasting Fee –
a. Working with Director of Sierra Club local chapter to continue outreach to BOS.
6. New Communications contact at Sierra Club San Diego
e. League of Women Voters– No report
7. Public Comments and Communication
a. Attendees discussed
i. Measure B lawsuit
1. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/judge-denies-city-san-diegos-001113116.html
ii. Helen is researching advanced recycling technology
1. Interested in sharing and getting feedback
8. Regional Planning issues
a. Wasting Fee discussion (from Chair) – no report
9. Legislative update (https://www.calpsc.org/legislation)
10. Bills introduced/continued:
a. 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. Two-Year
bill (no update).
b. AB-333: Recycling:
glass beverage containers: market development payments.
This bill would require the department, subject to the availability of funds,
to pay a market development payment to a person who purchases a product, other
than a beverage container, that is made with empty glass beverage containers
that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. Passed Assembly Committee on
Natural Resources – 1/12/26. Dead?
c. AB-337: Greenhouse
Gas Reduction Fund: grant program: edible food
This bill would expand the grant program to provide financial assistance for
the recovery of edible food. Re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations
1/15/2026. Dead?
d. AB-405: Fashion
Environmental Accountability Act of 2025
This bill would enact the Fashion Environmental Accountability Act of 2025 and
would require fashion sellers to carry out effective environmental due
diligence. Dead?
e. 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. Passed
Assembly 1/29/26; in the Senate - first read. Amended to exclude cannabis.
f.
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.
g. 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. Amended
– no longer an EPR bill but seeks to align state and federal regulations. Dead?
h. 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. Two-Year bill.
i.
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.
j. AB-1617: HHW reporting bill - alignment of reporting with Form 3033. Passed Assembly Appropriations 4/8/26.
k. AB-1812: compostable products labeling bill.
l. AB-2226: spot bill repealing reusable grocery bags pre-checkout.
m. AB-2245: lubricants packaging bill - EPR program that covers everything not covered in CalRecycle’s used oil program. Requires producers to take new oil containers AND used oil containers.
n. AB-2462: recalled products bill – require any manufacturer of a recalled product to take back the item. Passed Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee 3/24/26.
o. 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. Dead bill. Per Chair –
looking at local ordinances for coastal cities.
p. 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.
q.
SB-501: Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022: covered batteries.
Gutted and amended. Now for medium-format
batteries only (11 to 25 lbs). Passed Senate 1/27/26. In Assembly.
r. 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. Likely
dead.
s. 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. Likely dead.
t. SB-936: prohibit sales of certain nitrous oxide cylinders. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 3/17/26.
u. SB-1371: addresses solid waste handling and labor disputes.
v. 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
11. Roundtable
a. S. 1194 Recycling and Composting A87ccountability Act
b. S. 1189 Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2024 Passed Senate on 3/12/24.
c. REUSE Act passed the US Senate
d. SB 54 implementation
i. SB 54: Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act - CalRecycle Home Page
12. Adjournment