Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Carolyn Bloede, Director, Office of Sustainability
Subject: CA SB 1383 Composting Infrastructure Development
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve an Appropriations Transfer Request (ATR) appropriating $204,741 from the Office of Sustainability Non-General Fund General Reserves to Services and Supplies to fund programs to support compliance with California Senate Bill 1383.
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BACKGROUND:
The State of California has acted to address greenhouse gas emissions through California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383). This new legislation will become effective January 1, 2022, and by 2025 it will require a 75 percent reduction in organics waste disposal. In order to achieve this goal, jurisdictions will be required to develop comprehensive organics waste recycling systems, including composting infrastructure development. The County of San Mateo has been proactive in addressing climate change and ongoing preparation for SB 1383 implementation; most recently, on January 5, 2021, this Board adopted Resolutions No. 077918 and 077919 approving agreements with Fresh Approach and Samaritan House to support community composting and countywide edible food recovery programs.
Additionally, the Office of Sustainability (OOS) has been actively developing, testing, and funding strategies to increase compost collection, education, and food waste reduction throughout the county for many years. These programs include a network of forty community gardens, compost bin subsidies for household composting and vermicomposting, a permaculture garden located on County land in an urban zone. Additionally, OOS has made financial support for an urban agriculture garden, a community composting facility, and is involved in multiple franchise agreements that make curbside organics collection available to many communities within the County’s unincorporated areas.
DISCUSSION:
Creating robust composting systems in compliance with SB 1383 will require continuous partnership development and investment. Specifically, efforts will need to be focused on coastal communities that currently lack access to organics diversion programs.
The OOS plans to contract with the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District to support the development of new composting programs and infrastructure necessary to offer organics collection service and composting programs in coastal communities that lack them, and support County efforts to comply with SB 1383. The proposed Appropriations Transfer Request will provide funding for the OOS to move forward with these efforts this fiscal year. This will allow the County to continue pursuing innovative approaches to increase waste diversion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and comply with SB 1383.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no net County cost. All costs will be funded entirely by revenue from the County’s AB 939 fee, which is levied on all waste disposed of within the county and is designated specifically for waste reduction programs. Approval of the Appropriations Transfer Request will appropriate funds in the amount of $204,741 from the OOS Non-General Fund General Reserves to Services and Supplies.