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Home My WebLink AboutSC 10-16-2025 PresentationsSC 10-16-2025 Item No.2 Legislation Presentations October 16, 2025 Sustainability Commission State Legislation Related to Sustainability Policy Emissions Climate Global Warming Solutions Act –AB 32 (2006) CARB given authority to design, implement, and enforce regulations to reach 1990 GHG, levels by 2020. MAJOR “DOWNSTREAM” LAWS • SB 32 (2016) –40 % below 1990 by 2030* • AB 1279 (2022) –Net 0% by 2045* • SB 100 (2018) –100 % clean electricity • SB 375 (2008) –Sustainable Communities • SB 1383 (2016) –Methane & organics Planning Sustainable Communities / GHG Planning –SB 375 (2008) Requires regional Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) tying housing, land use & transportation to GHG reduction targets; offers CEQA incentives. Water Conservation in Landscaping Act --AB 1881 (2006) Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance –WELO (2025 update) Applies to new landscapes ≥ 500 sq ft or rehabilitated ≥ 2,500 sq ft. Sets water-budget limits, irrigation efficiency, and more. Building Energy Benchmarking -AB 802* Buildings over 50k sq ft report consumption annually CALGreen Update –CALGreen 2025 (2025) 2022 update Adds electric-ready + EV-infrastructure and water-efficiency measures 2025 update Increases EV-ready/charger percentages (e.g., some nonresidential up to ~40%) Building Code Freeze until 2031 –AB 130 (2025) Freezes most residential building-code updates; limited exceptions (impacts reach-code timelines) Building Energy Zero-Emission Fleet Transition –Advanced Clean Fleets (2023) Requires public and private fleets to transition to zero-emission vehicles over time EV Charger Permit Time Review Limits –AB 970 (2021)* Limits local government, causing permitting delays for electric vehicle charging stations EV Charger Permit Streamlining–AB 1236 (2022)* The City must provide expedited, non-discretionary EV-charger permits Transportation Waste Sorting is Required –SB 1383 (2016)* Divert organic and edible food to cut methane Mandatory Commercial Recycling –AB 341 (2011)* MF and Comm must have a recycling container Plastics and Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility –SB 54 (2022) By 2032, Producers must make packaging recyclable/compostable; stricter labeling Waste Non-Functional Turf Ban –AB 1572 (2023) Bans potable water irrigation of decorative turf (grass) at commercial properties and HOAs Jan. 1, 2027 –Government Properties Jan. 1, 2028 –Commercial properties Jan. 1, 2029 -HOA Water Climate-Ready Safety Elements –SB 379 (2015)* Requires cities/counties to integrate climate- risk assessment & adaptation into General Plan safety elements. Wildfire Risk Reduction –SB 901 (2018) Funds forest health and wildfire prevention/resilience programs. Led by FireSafe Council. Emergency Resilience Clean Water Act (1972) Implemented and enforced by CA State Water Board and Regional Water Boards Requires jurisdictions to monitor and report pollutants in the storm drains. Sets limits on pollution volume. Enforces limits by fees for non-compliance. Federal Federal -Continued Clean Air Act –1970, 1990 The foundational federal law enabling regulation of air pollutants, including greenhouse gases, via EPA rulemaking. -Created CARB and Air Quality Districts (BAAQMD) Inflation Reduction Act –US Climate Spending (2022) Major federal climate law is driving investments in clean energy, tax incentives, emission reductions, and carbon management. Which policies stood out to you? Discussion Questions SC 10-16-2025 Item No.3 Waste Characterization Study Presentations Waste Characterization Study Results •Conducting a citywide waste characterization study every 4 to 5 years is a key supporting action of Zero Waste Measure W-1, as established in the City’s Climate Action Plan 2.0. •Identify diversion opportunities, check compliance with SB 1383, plan and evaluate waste reduction programs. Why do a waste characterization? •Checked all 3 streams (garbage, recycling, organics) •211 samples from 4 sectors: SF, MFD, COM, Muni •Sorted into 63 material types Methodology •Recoverability groups: •Recyclable: accepted in blue cart •Contaminated Recyclable: improperly prepared for recovery •Compostable: accepted in green cart •Potentially Recoverable: should be diverted through specialty take-back or drop-off •Non-recoverable: true trash Methodology (cont.) How many tons overall? •Recoverability of items in garbage: •Could have been recovered if placed in the correct stream and/or properly prepared. •Contamination •Put in the wrong place •Capture Rate •How much of a recyclable material properly sorted Metrics Material Types (see Appx B) What’s in the garbage? Still >half recoverable What’s in the garbage? SFD deep-dive What’s in the garbage? SFD deep-dive (cont.) What’s in the recycling? What’s in the recycling? SFD deep-dive What’s in the recycling? SFD deep-dive (cont.) What’s in the organics? What’s in the organics? SFD deep-dive Notable changes from previous study •Doing better at capturing recyclables Notable changes from previous study •SFD: small shift in organics from trash to green cart Top problem materials/issues •Compostables in the garbage •Poor sorting at MFDs •Trash, food, plastics, soiled paper in the recyclables •Plastics in the organics Plastics and foodware…. •SFD only correctly sorts 32% of plastic takeout containers •SFD only capturing 5% of paper takeout containers (13% of cups) •COM only correctly sorts 8% of plastic takeout containers •COM only capturing 22% of paper takeout containers (44% of cups) How much single-use foodware? •Per year: •299 tons of paper takeout containers •442.5 tons of plastic takeout containers How much plastic? •Per year: •4,843 tons of all types of plastic •2,294 tons (47%) is potentially recyclable plastic •30% of that properly recycled •2018/2019 •3,909 tons of all types of plastic •1,470 tons potentially recyclable •45% of that properly captured 2018-2019 plastic graphic