Assembly Bill 2481, authored by Assembly Member Thurston “Smitty” Smith (R-Hesperia), seeks to reduce administrative and financial burdens on local governments that administer household hazardous waste collection facilities (HHWCFs); provide flexibility for operation of local HHWCFs; and facilitate proper disposal of hazardous waste. This measure is sponsored by RCRC.
Local governments are required to have a program for managing Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and many jurisdictions operate their own facilities to provide households and small businesses with a convenient opportunity to properly dispose of those wastes. Local governments are also often responsible for the collection and proper disposal of improperly disposed or abandoned hazardous wastes.
AB 2481 makes a wide variety of changes to existing hazardous waste laws, providing much needed clarification and cost savings.
This bill provides more flexibility for local governments, residents, and small businesses to properly dispose of hazardous wastes, including allowing friends and family members to take HHW to a HHWCF (provided there is no compensation) when death, illness, or disability precludes a member of the household from doing so. AB 2481 also simplifies the process for local governments to transport abandoned hazardous wastes to a HHWCF for proper disposal. Finally, AB 2481 reduces some of the administrative red tape and unnecessary fees related to transporting hazardous waste from one local government HHWCF to another.
RCRC’s letter of support can be found here. For more information, please contact RCRC Policy Advocate, John Kennedy.