HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 08-020RESOLUTION N0.08-020
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
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
upcoming ban of sharps waste into the municipal solid waste stream or any container used for
recyclable materials, 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, 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, assuming a fifty percent recovery rate, collecting and disposing of products
currently banned from the landfills could cost local jurisdictions in Santa Clara County an estimated
additional $3 million each year; and
WHEREAS, when additional products are declared as hazardous by the State, the burden to
manage these items will fall to local jurisdictions and
WHEREAS, there are significant environmental and human health impacts associated with
improper management of Universal Waste products; including mercury, lead, cadmium and other toxic
chemicals that when disposed of improperly can contaminate water supplies; 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 City Council of Saratoga supports statewide efforts to hold producers
responsible for Universal Waste products and other product waste management costs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga wishes to incorporate EPR policies into the City's product
procurement practices to reduce costs and protect the environment; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga urges
our representatives in Sacramento to pursue statewide extended producer responsibility legislation that
will give incentive for the redesign of products to make them less toxic and easier to recycle, and shift
the cost for recycling and proper disposal of products from the local government to the producer and
distributor of the product; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor of the City Council of the City of Saratoga
be authorized to send letters to the League of California Cities, the California Integrated Waste
Management Board, and the State legislature and to use other advocacy methods to urge support for
EPR legislation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saratoga will continue to
support extended producer responsibility initiatives and statewide legislation beyond universal waste to
cover areas including other hazardous products, bulky packaging, and items like plastics and multi-
material products that are difficult to recycle; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saratoga support
producer responsibility policies such as leasing products rather than purchasing them and requiring the
manufacturers of products sold to the City to offer less toxic alternatives and to take responsibility for
collecting and recycling their products at the end of their useful life.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Saratoga, State of California, on
the 19th day of March, 2008 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Jill Hunter, Kathleen King, Aileen Kao, Vice Mayor Chuck Page,
and Mayor Ann Waltonsmith
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
APPROVED:
G~~ `~~~
Ann Waltonsmith, Mayor
ATTES .
u iv n, Acting City Clerk