R-10412City Council Meeting: June 23, 2009
RESOLUTION NUMBER 10412 (ccs)
(City Council Series)
Santa Monica, California
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA SUPPORTING EXTENDED PRODUCER
RESPONSIBLITY
WHEREAS, over 100,000 tons of discarded materials and products are
currently sent to landfills from our community on an annual basis; 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, state policies currently make local governments responsible
for achieving waste diversion goals and enforcing product disposal bans, both of
which are unfunded mandates; and
WHEREAS, Universal Waste management costs are currently paid by
taxpayers and rate payers of the City of Santa Monica area and are expected to
increase substantially in the short term unless policy changes are made; and
WHEREAS, local governments have no input on the design of the
products, make no profit from the products, and do not have the resources to
adequately address the rising volume of discarded products; and
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 City Council of Santa Monica supports statewide efforts to
hold producers responsible for Universal Waste products and other product
waste management costs; and
WHEREAS, there are significant environmental and human health impacts
associated with improper management of Universal Waste, sharps, and other
products; and
WHEREAS, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach
in which producers assume responsibility for management of waste products and
which has been shown to be effective; and
WHEREAS, when producers are responsible for ensuring their 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, EPR framework legislation establishes transparent and fair
principles and procedures for applying EPR to categories of products for which
improved design and management infrastructure is in the public interest; and
WHEREAS, the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) is an
organization of California local governments working to speak with one voice in
promoting transparent and fair EPR systems in California; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica wishes to incorporate EPR policies
into the City's product procurement practices to reduce costs and protect the
environment; and
WHEREAS, in January 2008 the California Integrated Waste Management
Board adopted a Framework for an EPR System ih California.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica urges the California Integrated Waste
Management Board to continue taking timely action to implement the Framework
for an EPR System in California to manage Universal and other wastes.
SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica urges the California Legislature to
enact framework EPR legislation that shifts Universal and other waste
management costs from local. government to the producers of the product, and
which will give producers the incentive to redesign products to make them less
toxic and easier to reuse and recycle.
SECTION 3. The City of Santa Monica 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.
SECTION 4. The Manager of the Office ofSustainabilityavd the
Environment of the City of Santa Monica be authorized to communicate with the
League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the
California Integrated Waste Management Board, and the State legislature and to
use other advocacy methods to urge support for EPR Framework legislation.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution,
and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
A SHA ~ ES MOJJTRIE
Cit Attorn
Adopted and approved this 23`d day of June,
Ken Censer,
I, Maria Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 10412 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council- held on the 23`d day of June, 2009, by the following vote:
Ayes: Council members: Bloom, Davis, Holbrook, McKeown
Mayor Censer, Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor
Noes: Council members: None
Abstain: Council members: None
Absent: Council members: Shriver
ATTEST:
~~ ~ ~ ,f
Maria Stewart, City Jerk