Executive Director's Report to Members

15 Sep 2014 11:25 AM | Anonymous

CRRA Executive Director Report to Members

August – September 2014

2014 San Jose Annual Conference and Trade Show a Success

Over 700 registrants attended our 38th Annual Conference and Trade Show at The Fairmont Hotel in San Jose on August 3 -6, 2014. Sixty exhibitors filled the exhibit hall. Thirty-eight CRRA sponsors were recognized throughout the Conference. Almost fifty sessions were held on a range of topics including recycling, organics, zero waste and climate change. The City of San Jose, the California Product Stewardship Council and CRRA conducted a joint awards ceremony. 

Our keynote speakers included Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, Senior Scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council who has developed institutional greening programs for the Academy Awards, the GRAMMY Awards, and professional sports, Sadhu Johnston, Assistant City Manager of Vancouver, British Columbia and former Director of Sustainability for the City of Chicago, and Dr. Russell Hancock, President and CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley.

Thank you Patty Morgan and her staff from Red Shoe Solutions (our conference manager) and to all the City of San Jose and CRRA volunteers who made this Conference possible! 

2015 Annual Conference and Trade Show Scheduled for Los Angeles

Mark your calendars for August 4 -7, 2015 when CRRA hosts its 39th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Los Angeles at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. In 2015 the City of Los Angeles moves from an open market solid waste hauling system to a zero waste-based exclusive franchise system with specific goals that are designed to remove over a million tons of resources from landfill disposal each year by 2015. We will be on hand for this historic development in the journey toward zero waste!   

2016 Annual Conference and Trade Show – Sacramento Offers to Host

We appreciate the City of Sacramento and County of Sacramento’s generous offer to host our 2016 Annual Conference and Trade Show through the Sacramento Regional Solid Waste Authority (SWA). We are researching hotel availability and exhibit hall options prior to making a final commitment to SWA.    

Government Relations – Legislative Updates

AB 1594Alternative Daily Cover - Heads to the Governor’s Office

On August 28 the Assembly concurred with Senate amendments to AB 1594 which passed the Senate on August 27. After engrossing and enrolling, the bill will be sent to the Governor’s office. 

AB 1594, authored by Assemblymember Das Williams, specifies that green material (i.e., yard trimmings and untreated wood waste) used as alternative daily cover in landfills does not constitute diversion and shall instead be considered disposal beginning in 2020. The bill requires jurisdictions to report on how they will meet these diversion requirements and to address any barriers that would prevent a jurisdiction from meeting these requirements. CRRA submitted letters of support for this bill and voiced support for the bill throughout the legislative process.

AB 1826 – Removing Organics from Landfills - With Governor’s Office

On August 21 AB 1826 was forwarded to the Governor’s office after the Assembly concurred with Senate amendments on August 14 by a vote of 55 - 22. On August 11 the Senate had voted to pass the bill by a vote of 23 -11.

AB 1826, authored by Assemblymember Wes Chesbro, would require commercial recycling of organic waste starting in 2016 for businesses generating eight cubic yards or more of organic waste per week. AB 1826 also requires local jurisdictions to develop organic waste recycling programs. CRRA submitted a letter of support for this bill and voiced support for the bill throughout the legislative process.

AB 270 - Senate Passes Single Use Plastic Bag Phase Out Bill

In a dramatic final late night session on August 29 the Senate concurred in the Assembly’s amendments to  AB 270 by a vote of  22 -15. A thirty-minute debate preceded the vote.  Senators Padilla, de Leon and Lara each spoke on behalf of the bill.  After rejecting passage of AB 270 on August 25, the Assembly reversed their vote and passed the bill on August 28 by a vote of 44- 29.

Heavily lobbied, AB 270 will phase out single use plastic bags in California and will be the first state in the country to do so. CRRA contacted Assembly members and encouraged CRRA members to  contact Assembly members and ask them to support the bill.        

 Certification Program Update – CRRA- SWANA Potential Partnership Discussions Ongoing

During our Annual Conference I met with SWANA Deputy Director Sara Bixby and  SWANA Board Vice President Michelle Leonard to discuss the possibility of a CRRA – SWANA certification partnership. The partnership could include 1) consolidation of curriculum materials and instruction, 2) joint marketing to members, and 3) contracted out administration. In a potential certification partnership both organizations would maintain their brand identities.

Board Liaison Colleen Foster, Sara Bixby and I have been working on a matrix chart to identify the key features of both a joint CRRA-SWANA certification program and a CRRA-only certification program. Colleen Foster and I will have a recommendation for the CRRA Board in September.  

During 2014 our CRRA Ad Hoc Certification Committee has provided valuable information and insights to 1) identify the best mix of courses, 2) consider the inclusion of more sustainable materials life cycle and climate change content, 3) focus our certification on mid-career professionals, 4) evaluate the requirements contained in the national standards, and 5) review opportunities to leverage course work with SWANA.   

Recycling Facility Financing Workshop Planning Meeting September 16

On September 16 Board President Rob Hilton and I will meet in Sacramento with representatives from CalRecycle (including Dr. Howard Levenson), the California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA), and from CPCFA’s financial advisory firm,  Montague DeRose, to discuss the feasibility of sponsoring joint seminars on tax-exempt financing for recycling businesses in California. In addition, we will discuss how best to integrate CalRecycle’s grant and loan programs, especially those related to Cap and Trade funds, into the proposed workshop format.

With the likely enactment of AB 1826, the need for public and private recycling facilities to process commercial organic waste will increase dramatically in California. 

If feasible, workshops would be scheduled in the late  2014 and early 2015 in northern and southern California.

Williams and Olds Selected as the New Accounting Firm for CRRA

On August 21, the CRRA Board approved Sacramento-based Williams and Olds as the new accounting firm for CRRA. The firm will handle both bookkeeping and accounting beginning November 1.  The firm is familiar with CRRA’s mission and programs, they currently do our tax filings, and they were very price competitive vis a vis other firms that responded to our Request for Proposals.