This week, two important bills targeting illegal dumping advanced in the Legislature. RCRC strongly supports both measures.
Senate Bill 1230 by Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) increases penalties for repeated violations of the state’s illegal dumping laws. SB 1230 also requires CalRecycle to develop a website with resources to help local governments fight, prevent, and clean up illegal dumping, including educational materials, best practices, enforcement tools, and grant opportunities. SB 1230 passed the Senate Public Safety Committee 6-0 and will next be heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
Assembly Bill 2310 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) closes a loophole to allow for prosecution of those who are engaged in, or allow the illegal dumping of, waste matter upon property where a permit or license for those activities was required by a state or local agency but was not obtained. The bill also imposes significant consequences on landowners and transporters who illegally dump more than 25 cubic yards of waste, concrete, asphalt, dirt, or other construction debris. AB 2310 passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee by of vote of 9-0, and will next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 2310 and SB 1230 address a serious and pervasive public health and safety crisis that has been occurring throughout the state, and in particularly egregious levels in sparsely populated rural areas.
RCRC’s letter in support of SB 1230 can be found HERE and the letter in support of AB 2310 is available HERE.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy.