HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupport Letter - AB 1080 (Gonzalez) - 08.30.2019CITY OF
CUPERTINO
August 30, 2019
MAYOR STEVEN SCHARF
sscharf@cupertino.org
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3191 • FAX: (408) 777-3366
CUPERTINO.ORG
The Honorable Lorena Gonzalez
California State Assembly
State Capitol Building, Room 2114
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 1080 (Gonzalez) California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction
Act Notice of SUPPORT (As Amended 8114119)
Dear Assemblymernber Gonzalez,
The City of Cupertino is pleased to support AB 1080 (Gonzalez), the California Circular
Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act. This bill directs the California Department
of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to adopt regulations before January 1,
2024 that require specified producers to collectively achieve a statewide 75 percent
reduction of waste generated from single -use packaging and priority single -use plastic
products in the California market by 2030. AB 1080 also requires all of these single -use
plastic products be recyclable or compostable.
AB 1080 requires producers, which include people or companies that manufacture single -
use packaging and products, to source reduce these single -use plastics through a
combination of source reduction, recycling, or composting by 2030. To achieve this
CalRecycle's regulations will require producers to ensure these plastic products are
recyclable or compostable. This will both reduce the plastic pollution in our waterways
and oceans and prevent materials, which are often landfilled, from entering the waste
stream.
AB 1080 also requires CalRecycle by January 1, 2023, and before the adoption of
regulations, to finalize a scoping plan that will include extensive outreach with
stakeholders, including local governments. This will give local governments a voice in the
creation of the forthcoming regulations to address potential implementation challenges.
Additionally, the scoping plan includes developing incentives and policies to maximize
and encourage in -state manufacturing using recycled material generated in California.
Developing these incentives will address the lack of recycling markets in California, as
recyclable materials once shipped overseas are now piling up with nowhere to go.
Cities have dedicated significant time and resources to develop and implement their
recycling programs and want to ensure local recycling programs continue to be successful.
AB 1080 will help local governments recycle more materials, throw less waste into
landfills, and advance towards meeting statewide solid waste and recycling goals. The
City is supportive of meeting these goals and applauds Assemblymember Gonzalez for
her leadership on this issue.
For these reasons, the City of Cupertino is proud to support AB 1080. if you have any
questions, please contact Alex Gibbs at 916-447-4086.
Sincerely,
IC1, )�L
Steven Scharf
Mayor, City of Cupertino
cc: Senator Jim Beall
Assemblymember Marc Berman
Assemblymember Evan Low