HomeMy WebLinkAbout28-08 •
RESOLUTION NO. 28-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
SUPPORTING EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
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 and are expected to increase 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 Town of Los Altos Hills 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 products; and
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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 Integrated Waste Management Board has
adopted Strategic Directives to begin developing statewide EPR programs; and
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the
Town of Los Altos Hills 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; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the staff of the Town of Los Altos
Hills be authorized to send letters to 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; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the Town of Los Altos Hills
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
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the Town of Los Altos Hills
support 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 and the end of their useful life.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this �i�i day o / •AL,. /008.
By:
Mayor
-ATTEST:
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City lerk