CAC Thursday, April 9, 2026 12:00
rican...@aol.com
COUNTYWIDE INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE/ CRRA San Diego Chapter and Zero Waste San Diego Public Meeting MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA
WHEN: Thursday, April 9, 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 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, March 12, 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. Ani Putnam - City of San Diego
iii. Lotte Phoummavong - Goodwill San Diego
iv. Clare Swthenbank-Bowman – Trash4Tokens
v. Helen Kagan - resident
vi. Gabriel Schiering - I Love A Clean San Diego
vii. Ron Askeland, Sierra Club San Diego
viii. Beryl Flom, League of Women Voters
2. Approval, minutes from February 2026
a. Approved
3. Chair’s Report (Ric Anthony)
a. California (state) is putting out a zero waste plan
b. Zero Waste Forum will be taking place in Turkey – June 2026 – https://globalzerowasteforum.org/
i. Trying to gather a panel to talk about zero waste and what other countries are doing
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 Utah in April - https://zerowasteforum.org/
e. Attendees discussed
i. HF&F report (Reserves language from Measure B - City of San Diego)
1. Revenue cushion (expected 16-25% revenue).
a. Confirmed with City of San Diego rep – funds go to an enterprise fund (Solid Waste Fund).
2. Infrastructure to buy all new trucks/cans only spread over a four-year window.
a. With thirty years of deferred maintenance; could cost be spread over entire lifecycle of equipment?
3. Adoption rate
a. City anticipated small bin 35-gallon trash bin at 2% adoption rate. Demand was actually at 10%
A. Any oversight into this?
4. Talked about transparency on independent cost allocations; currently no public oversight.
5. Is there a mechanism to refund excess revenue back to rate payers?
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
d. Close to wrapping up grey bin delivery (lots of old black bins still to collect)
A. Once all grey bins are delivered, will stop picking up black bins.
e. 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) – mailed to 3,000 out of 20,000 properties
1. 1,728 final NOVs mailed
2. Will begin citing as of 3/23/26
B. Code Officers are looking at the service levels and size of the property to determine if sufficient to handle all waste (email is ESDEnfo...@sandiego.gov).
2. Route reviews
a. Initial OOPS Tags are ready
A. Working on a 4th tag (DO NOT COLLECT tag)
b. Will have a separate tag for old black bins
3. Environmental Services Department (ESD) audit
a. Outcome – City Council asked to reevaluate the franchise fees/do a rate study
A. Go out to bid for contractor to evaluate – Stephanie Ewalt is leading these efforts (leading waste characterization study as well)
B. Rate Study
1. San Diego misses $4M in trash fees, audit reveals | cbs8.com
4. Resource Recovery Park
a. No update
b. Consultant/landfill/Greenery/ESD staff working on this
5. CalRecycle grant
a. For outreach to residential and commercial properties
A. Still ongoing (marketing campaign)
1. Can share metrics next month (seagull videos)
B. Website updates are pending
6. Mattress/box spring recycling
a. Looking to expand hours – TBD
b. HHW may see expanded hours - TBD
7. Fix It Clinics
a. Upcoming Events – San Diego Fixit Clinic
8. Events
a. https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/events
9. Staff changes
a. Some staff are OCA (Out of Class Assignment) to temporarily fill vacant positions until hiring freeze is over
10. Questions from attendees
a. Measure B Reserve fund
A. Attachment A – Summary of Reserve Balance - https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/cosd-cost-of-service-study-report.pdf
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. Working on finalizing graphics to wrap our County van in Recycle Right and/or Organic Waste recycling messaging.
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 - https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/dpw/SOLID_WASTE_PLANNING_and_RECYCLING/recycling_events/4.4.2026%20HHW%20Event%20Flyer_Eng%20-%20Spa.pdf
c. Community Clean up event in Warner Springs on 4/25 (details pending)
A. Attendee comment Clare
1. What other data do we collect at these events?
a. County collects tonnage, demographic data
b. Could Trash Talk assist with data gathering?
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 late April/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. Through I Love A Clean San Diego, promoted the use of recycled paper bags received at check out to make organic waste (food scrap) recycling easier - blog and press release
a. Instagram reel has been posted
A. https://www.instagram.com/p/DU3e1fElOvp/
4. Looking into agricultural plastics recycling options
a. Any farms/contacts, please email Steve
5. Working on horse manure diversion options
6. 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.
7. County researching HHW Reuse program at Ramona facility
8. We’ve hired our RS I – Kirk Kinder!
9. Solana Center events
a. Manure Composting workshop – Saturday, 3/28 at the International Equestrian Center in Ramona - https://www.solanacenter.org/events/save-money-and-compost-manure-in-unincorporated-san-diego-county
b. Master composter series starts 3/14 at Fallbrook Land Conservancy – https://www.solanacenter.org/events/master-composting-course-spring-2026
10. Regional Collaboration on messaging – any partners?
a. Zero Waste San Diego is interested
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. Matthew with Plastic Beach is looking to collect plastic film curbside (RFQ through Circular Action Alliance for SB 54).
5. Haulers
a. EDCO
i. Through Ric – Bob Hill to retire in May 2026.
6. Non-profits
a. Zero Waste San Diego (ZWSD)
i. Fix-It Clincs
1. https://zerowastesandiego.org/sdfixitclinic/
2. Holding five over the next one to two months
ii. Reuse and Repair Collective
1. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 AM to 3 PM
b. Goodwill
i. Looking to partner on e-waste/donation collections
c. I Love A Clean San Diego
i. Events https://www.cleansd.org/events/
1. Rainwater collection, cleanups, compost giveaway, Creek to Bay on Saturday 4/25 https://www.cleansd.org/events/24th-annual-creek-to-bay-cleanup-day/
d. Sierra Club
i. Ron
1. Community Clean up upcoming
a. Accepting trash, used appliances, green waste
2. Wasting Fee – Sierra Club Director is considering a Board letter to direct County staff to take a deeper look.
a. Senior Gleaners (article in next newsletter)
e. League of Women Voters– No report
7. Public Comments and Communication
a. Attendees discussed
i. Certified garbage bags
1. After researching further – not practical
ii. Middle/High School students
1. Need more courses to inspire future waste management professionals
a. There are training programs from Zero Waste USA and SWANA
8. Regional Planning issues
a. Wasting Fee discussion (from Chair)
i. Emphasized the need to understand that it is not a tax but surcharge on waste.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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