HomeMy WebLinkAbout22631 - RESOLUTIONS - 12/2/2009 RESOLUTION NO 22631
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS SUPPORTING EXTENDED PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS FINDS:
A. Approximately tons of discarded materials and products are currently sent
for disposal from our community on an annual basis at a cost of$38.84 per ton.
B. On February 8, 2006, California's Universal Waste Rule (CCR, Title 22,
Division 4.5, Chapter 23) became effective.
C. 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.
D. 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 ban of treated wood effective January 2007 and medical sharps
waste in September 2008.
E. State policies currently make local governments responsible for achieving
waste diversion goals and enforcing product disposal bans, both of which are unfunded
mandates.
F. Universal Waste management costs are currently paid by taxpayers and
rate payers and are expected to increase substantially in the short term unless policy
changes are made.
G. Local governments do not have the resources to adequately address the
rising volume of discarded products.
H. Costs paid by local governments to manage products are in effect
subsidies to the producers of hazardous products and products designed for disposal.
I. If the City of Palm Springs were able to collect all of the batteries and
fluorescent tubes generated in the City of Palm Springs, such a service would cost more
than all of the other current household hazardous waste programs combined-
J. The Palm Springs City Council supports statewide efforts to hold
producers responsible for Universal Waste products and other product waste
management costs.
Resolution 22631
Page 2
K. The Coachella Valley Association of Governments adopted a resolution in
July 2008 supporting statewide efforts to hold producers responsible for Universal
Waste products and other product waste management costs.
L. There are significant environmental and human health impacts associated
with improper management of Universal Waste, medical sharps waste, and other
products.
M. 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-
N. When 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.
O. 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.
P. The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) is an organization of
California local governments working to speak with one voice in promoting transparent
and fair EPR systems in California.
Q. The City of Palm Springs Path to a Sustainable Community calls for a
Zero Waste Plan, and implementation of a closed loop system which emphasizes the
need to incentivize manufacturers to reduce the toxics in their products and design them
to be reusable and recyclable.
R. The City of Palm Springs wishes to incorporate EPR policies into the
City's product procurement practices to reduce costs and protect the environment-
s. In January 2008, the California Integrated Waste Management Board
adopted a Framework for an EPR System in California-
T. In July 2008, the National Association of Counties adopted a resolution in
support of a framework approach to EPR.
U. On November 13, 2009, the National League of Cities adopted a
resolution in support of EPR.
Resolution 22631
Page 3
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE,
DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City of Palm Springs urges the California Integrated Waste
Management Board and its predecessor to continue taking timely action to implement
the framework for an EPR System in California to manage Universal and other waste
products.
Section 2. The City Council of Palm Springs urges the California Legislature to enact
framework EPR legislation which will give producers the incentive to design products to
make them less toxic and easier to reuse and recycle and get away from needing
legislation to manage every problem product.
Section 3. The Sustainability Manager of the City of Palm Springs is authorized to
send letters to the League of California Cities, the California State Association of
Counties, and the California Integrated Waste Management Board, and the State
legislature and to use other advocacy methods to urge support for EPR legislation and
related regulations.
Section 4. The Mayor of Palm Springs is authorized to sign the California Product
Stewardship Council (CPSC) Pledge of Support to CPSC to educate and advocate for
EPR policies and programs.
Section 5. The City of Palm Springs encourages all manufacturers to share in the
responsibility for eliminating waste through minimizing excess packaging, designing
products for durability, reusability, and the ability to be recycled, using recycled
materials in the manufacture of new products, and providing financial support for
collection, processing, recycling, or disposal of used materials.
Section 6. The City of Palm Springs incorporate producer responsibility into City
policies such as leasing products rather than purchasing them and requiring producers
to offer less toxic alternatives and to take responsibility for collecting and recycling their
products at the end of their useful life.
Section 7. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Resolution 22631
Page 4
ADOPTED THIS Z6 day of December, 2009-
David H- Ready, Ci a an ger
ATTEST:
?Zs Thompson, City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No.22631 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on the 2"d day of December,
2009, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Hutcheson, Councilmember
Weigel, Mayor Pro Tern Mills, and Mayor Pougnet.
NOES: None-
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
yome-s Thompson, City Clerkf Palm Springs, California d Z�4I G�0�