Resolution 14766CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 14766
SUPPORTING EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
WHEREBY PRODUCERS ASSUME FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGEMENT OF WASTE
PRODUCTS
WHEREAS, approximately 41,000 tons of discarded materials and
products are currently were disposed from the City of Alameda in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach
in which producers assume financial and operational responsibility for management of
waste products; and
WHEREAS, on February 8, 2006 California's Universal Waste Rule (CCR,
Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapter 23) became effective; and
WHEREAS, the Universal Waste Rule bans landfill disposal of certain
products that are deemed hazardous, including household batteries, fluorescent bulbs
and tubes, thermostats and other items that contain mercury, as well as electronic
devices such as video cassette recorders, microwave ovens, cellular phones, cordless
phones, printers, and radios; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the list of Universal and other waste
products determined to be hazardous and therefore banned from landfills will continue
to grow as demonstrated by the ban of treated wood effective January 2007 and sharps
in September 2008; and
WHEREAS, in January 2008 the California Integrated Waste Management
Board, now known as CalRecycle, adopted the Extended Producer Responsibility
Framework for an EPR System in California and the League of Cities has adopted a
policy statement in 2008 in support of EPR legislation; and
WHEREAS, Bay Area local governments formed the California Product
Stewardship Council in 2006 to support education and outreach efforts on the benefits
of producer responsibility systems and to advocate for them; and
WHEREAS, in February 2008 the City Council for the City of Alameda
accepted the Local Action Plan for Climate Change; and
WHEREAS, the 2008 Local Action Plan listed zero waste initiatives,
including developing of a zero waste plan, as a top priority for reaching the City's goals
to reduce the citywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 25 percent below 2005
levels by the year 2020; and
WHEREAS, in October 2010 the City Council approved the Zero Waste
Implementation Plan in which developing a City Council Resolution supporting
Extended Producer Responsibility is a named priority; and
WHEREAS, in 2008 and 2010, California passed laws requiring producers
of mercury thermostats, carpet, and paint to design and fund recovery programs for
their product waste; and
WHEREAS, state policies currently make local governments responsible
for achieving waste diversion goals and enforcing product disposal bans, both of which
are unfunded mandates whose increasing costs are borne by taxpayers, rate payers,
and local governments;
WHEREAS, costs paid by local governments to manage products are in
effect subsidies to the producers of hazardous products and products designed for
disposal; and
WHEREAS, the Board /City Council of City of Alameda supports statewide
efforts to have producers share in the responsibility for Universal Waste products and
other product waste management costs; and
WHEREAS, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach
in which producers assume financial responsibility for management of waste products.
When products are reused or recycled responsibly, and when health and environmental
costs are included in the product price, there is an incentive to design products that are
more durable, easier to repair and recycle, and less toxic; and
WHEREAS, the City of Alameda wishes to incorporate EPR policies into
the City's and County's product procurement practices to reduce costs and protect
public health and the environment; and
WHEREAS, in January 2008 the California Integrated Waste Management
Board, now known as CalRecycle, adopted a Framework for an EPR System in
California; in July 2008 the National Association of Counties adopted a resolution in
support of a framework approach to EPR; in November 2009 the National League of
Cities adopted EPR policy; in June 2010 the US Conference of Mayors adopted a
resolution in support of EPR; and to date, 131 resolutions have been passed by
California local governments and organizations supporting producer responsibility;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of
Alameda that, by adoption of this Resolution, the City urges CalRecycle to continue
taking timely action to implement the framework for an EPR System in California to
manage problematic products, and to urge the Department of Toxic Substances Control
to implement the Green Chemistry initiatives to manage Universal and other toxic
products; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Alameda
urges the California Legislature to enact product specific and framework EPR legislation
which will give producers the incentive to design products to make them less toxic and
easier to reuse and recycle; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager or designee of City
of Alameda be authorized to send letters to the California State Association of Counties,
California League of Cities, Association of Bay Area Governments, Alameda County
Waste Management Authority, CalRecycle, the State legislature, and to other local
governments, and to use other advocacy to urge support for EPR Framework legislation
and related regulations when deemed appropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager be authorized to sign
the California Product Stewardship Council Pledge of Support, and participate by
becoming a member and educating and advocating for EPR policies and programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Alameda encourages all
manufacturers to share in the responsibility for eliminating waste through minimizing
excess packaging, designing products for durability, reusability and the ability to be
recycled; using recycled materials in the manufacture of new products; and providing
financial support for collection, processing, recycling, or disposal of used materials; and
communicating with haulers and local governments about end of life management; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Alameda and its member
agencies develop producer responsibility policies such as leasing products rather than
purchasing them and requiring producers to offer less toxic alternatives and to take
responsibility for collecting and recycling their products at the end of their useful life.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in regular meeting
assembled on the 5th day of February, 2013, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Tam and
Mayor Gilmore — 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official
seal of said City this 6th day of February, 2013.
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda