HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2019-114 N.C.S. 07/15/2019Resolution No. 2019-114 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
ADOPTING ZERO WASTE PRINCIPLES AND GOAL OF
90% REDUCTION IN PER CAPITA SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is a member of the Sonoma County Waste
Management Agency (SCWMA) which is a joint powers authority; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the SCWMA is waste diversion required by State law
AB939; and
WHEREAS, the SCWMA's programs include household hazardous waste, composting,
wood waste recycling, planning and education; and
WHEREAS, the AB939 Sonoma County Local Task Force on Integrated Waste
Management (LTF) is an advisory body created by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to
advise the Board of Supervisors as well as the SCWMA; and
WHEREAS, for waste reduction purposes, the baseline utilized is the 14.2 pounds of
waste produced per person per day in 2003 in Sonoma County, including Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, by 2016 the waste produced per person per day had been reduced to 4.6
pounds in Sonoma County, including Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, the LTF recommended that the Board of Directors of the SCWMA adopt a
resolution establishing a goal of Zero Waste; and
WHEREAS, the SCWMA on September 18, 2018 adopted by Resolution a goal of Zero
Waste by 2030, and directed SCWMA staff to present the Resolution to the member jurisdictions
for their consideration; and
WHEREAS, this recommendation builds on all previous waste reduction efforts
including but not limited to those pursuant to the County Integrated Waste Management Plan
(CIWMP) and those pursued by the Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG), and the SCWMA, as
well as state initiatives and requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma has met and exceeded the 50% diversion goal set by
the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939) by substantially reducing,
reusing, recycling, and composting before landfilling, and is now working toward the statewide
goal of 75% recycling, composting, or source reduction of solid waste by 2020; and
WHEREAS, the US EPA has estimated 50% of all Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions
are caused by the extraction, production, transportation, and use of goods, including food,
products and packaging, and that Zero Waste principles minimize GHG production and therefore
support Sonoma County's Climate Initiative; and
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WHEREAS, in 2016, Sonoma County residents and businesses sent 420,865 tons to the
landfill, generating approximately 103,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (Center for Climate
Protection Greenhouse Gas Report for 2016) from decomposing organic matter; and
WHEREAS, the Short -Lived Climate Pollutants Reduction Act of 2016 (SB 1383)
requires a 20% reduction of edible food waste by 2025 and a 40% reduction in methane levels by
2030; and
WHEREAS, the substantial recycling progress to date has been slower than expected
and, since 2012, waste disposal per person per day has increased by 35%; and
WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Central Landfill, a very valuable resource worth
preserving, has a remaining capacity of 29 years; and
WHEREAS, the Redwood Landfill utilized by the City of Petaluma currently has a
remaining capacity of 13 years; and
WHEREAS, Zero Waste principles, in accordance with CalRecycle's (California
Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery) Zero Waste Hierarchy, promote the highest
and best use of materials, emphasize a closed loop system of production and consumption, and
move in logical increments toward the goal of reducing waste generation and landfill disposal
through:
• Improving "downstream" reuse and recycling of end -of -life products and materials to ensure
their highest and best use;
• Pursuing "upstream" re -design strategies to reduce the volume and toxicity of discarded
products and materials and promote less wasteful lifestyles;
• Fostering and supporting the use of discarded products and materials to stimulate and drive
local economic workforce development; and
• Preserving land for sustainable development and green industry infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, a resource recovery -based economy will create and sustain more productive
and meaningful jobs than a disposal -based economy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma will assume a leadership role by setting Zero Waste as
a goal.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Petaluma
as follows:
1. The City of Petaluma hereby encourages the pursuit of Zero Waste principles as a
long-term goal in order to eliminate waste and pollution in the manufacture, use,
storage, and recycling of materials. This goal can be achieved through action plans
and measures that significantly reduce waste and pollution. These measures will
include encouragement of residents, businesses, and agencies to judiciously use,
reuse, and recycle materials, and motivation of businesses to manufacture and market
less toxic and more durable, repairable, reusable, recycled, and recyclable products.
2. The City Council of the City of Petaluma hereby adopts the Zero Waste principles as
defined by Zero Waste International Alliance as guiding principles for all municipal
operations, outreach, and programs and actions within the community.
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3. The City Council of the City of Petaluma sets the goal of a 90% reduction from 2003
baseline levels, to the goal of 1.4 pounds of waste per person per day, and commits
to:
a. Empowering waste reduction actions as a jurisdiction and a member of the
SCWMA;
b. Reducing the total pounds of waste produced per person per day as determined
through the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
Electronic Annual Report process, currently 4.6, by at least 10% each year;
c. Instituting and/or expanding cost-effective high diversion and Zero Waste goals
and programs for all government facilities, events, and projects;
d. Educating the public regarding the environmental and community benefits of
reducing wasteful consumption and increasing diversion through reuse, repair,
composting, and recycling;
e. Strongly encouraging all residents, businesses, and agencies to participate in
composting and recycling programs and to reduce and reuse;
f. Updating the City's Green Purchasing, Environmentally Preferable Procurement
(EPP), and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies;
g. Supporting adoption and implementation of the countywide Construction and
Demolition Reuse and Recycling Ordinance;
h. Supporting equitable pay and safe working conditions for material management
workers;
i. Developing a sound financial model that can sustain high diversion and Zero
Waste principle programs and enable long term delivery of quality services to the
community.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the rovedas to
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 151h day of July 2019, for
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by the following vote:
City Att rney
AYES: Mayor Barrett; Fischer; Healy; Kearney; King; Vice Mayor McDonnell; Miller
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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ATTEST: .333
City Clerk Mayor
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