HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 54_190325_ Letter of SupportCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114, slocity.org
March 29, 2019
Senator Ben Allen, Chair
Senate Environmental Quality Committee
State Capitol Room 2205
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: City of San Luis Obispo Supports SB 54 (Allen, Weiner, Skinner) – Circular Economy
& Plastic Pollution Reduction Act
Dear Senator Allen:
On behalf of the City of San Luis Obispo, we thank you for authoring SB 54, which would require the
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to adopt regulations to source , reduce,
and recycle 75% of single-use packaging and products sold and distributed in California by 2030. The
City of San Luis Obispo is supportive of this legislation as it is consistent with our adopted legislative
platform and Major City Goal, both of which support sustainability at a local, state, national, and global
level in a commitment to address climate change.
The City of San Luis Obispo prioritizes recycling, waste diversion, and zero waste programs and
supports this bill as an opportunity to reduce waste generation at its origin. We have already made
significant efforts toward the State goal of diverting solid waste by 75% by 2020 through
implementation of an anaerobic biodigestion facility, legislation restricting the distribution of straws
and single-use plastic bottles as well as plastic bags, additional requirements to our special event
permitting process, and development of a construction and demolition waste diversion program to cite
a few examples. SB 54 allows us an opportunity to share the waste diversion responsibility with
producers, to reduce public costs, and drive improvements in product design.
Per SB 54, local jurisdictions will be required to provide baseline information upon request from the
State. We intend to provide any and all information required to aid in this source reduction effort.
Respectfully,
Heidi Harmon
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc: San Luis Obispo City Council
State Senator Bill Monning, fax (916) 651 – 4917
State Assembly Member Jordan Cunningham, fax (916) 319-2135
Derek Dolfie, League of California Cities, dddolfie@cacities.org
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, CityLetters@cacities.org