New state organic waste recycling law could raise Elk Grove garbage collection rates by 23%
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2021/04/new-state-organic-waste-recycling-law.html
During tomorrow night's regular meeting, the Elk Grove City Council will consider garbage collection rate hikes that could increase monthly bills by up to 23-percent. The fee hike is sought as the city grapples with the additional cost associated with a new state law requiring the enhanced collection of food waste.
The new law, California Senate Bill 1383, will require new collection services statewide of organic waste such as food products. The law is meant to divert that garbage from landfills and establishment of an edible food recovery program.
Elk Grove's contracted garbage collector, Phoenix, Arizona-based Republic Services, does not currently offer these services in the city, and their existing contract does cover this activity. To establish new garbage collection rates, the city contracted with a third party to negotiate a range of possible increases.
Although new rates will be finalized at a future meeting, the staff report notes some residential rates could increase by 23-percent. However, there is one alternate legislation action, California Senate Bill 619, currently being pursued that would delay implementing the law signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016.
The new weekly collection of food waste is scheduled to start on January 1, 2022. Wednesday's Elk Grove City Council meeting starts at 6 p.m.
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Another piece of legislation that sounded good on paper, got some publicity mileage for a few politcians, and then it was turned over to staff for implementation. Problem is, the staff analysts have admitted that there is nowhere near enough processing facilities to handle the millions of tons of food waste being generated in California each day.
Drilling down to the local level in Elk Grove, the short term plan is to mix the food scraps with your yard waste, and then that waste is apparently being incinerated--hardly a blueprint for the Green New Deal I would say!
Then in a couple years, we will be given a separate new shiny bin for our food scraps, and unless mass food waste processing facilities are built in the region, our smelly, juicy food will continue to be burned.
I see a huge economic development opportunity for Elk Grove in all this. The City can build a big food scrap processing center and become the region's Food Scrap Mecca! Trucks will be rolling into town day and night, dripping juices from the delectable morsels of last night's dinner, and when the Delta breezes blow just right, the sweet air of Elk Grove will have a tinge of Martha's beef stroganoff!
Proud Heritage, Bright Future!
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