On June 25, 2020, the Orange County Grand Jury released its 2019-20 Grand Jury Report, OC Recycling: Doing it the Right Way. The purpose of the report was to understand how Orange County cities and the County are reaching out to educate the public on the significance of recycling, the availability of information on the proper sorting of waste, and how changing industry demands could affect people’s everyday habits and the rates they pay. In compliance with Penal Code 933.05 (a) and (b), the City is required to provide a response to each of the findings and recommendations directed to the City Council by September 28, 2020.  Specifically, the City is to respond to four findings and three recommendations.

In an effort to divert waste going to local landfills, more state recycling laws are put into place leaving local jurisdictions to comply with implementing more recycling programs. The Grand Jury reviewed several recycling mandates: AB 939–Integrated Waste Management Act, AB 341–Mandatory Commercial Recycling, AB 1826–Mandatory Commercial Organic Recycling, AB 1594–Alternative Daily Cover.  The recycling goals set by CalRecycle are impeded by the current China policies and the pandemic. Waste haulers have been faced with higher processing costs for recyclable materials and international markets have significantly declined. COVID-19 has led to CalRecycle lifting the ban on single use plastics for the food industry to keep up with demand on increased use of packaged food materials and plastic utensils. One of such items, single use plastic shopping bags, has become problematic in the waste stream, once again.

The Grand Jury report found that a number of Orange County cities, including Garden Grove, had not fully complied with AB 341–Mandatory Commercial Recycling that requires cities to provide multi-family complexes with recycling containers. The City has a modified plan approved by CalRecycle that outlines steps toward meeting the requirements of AB 341. The Grand Jury report also outlined three recommendations.  Cities were advised to (1) conduct regular contract reviews to ensure legislative changes are addressed and contract length terms are shortened (2) label recycle bins to ensure proper sorting of waste, and (3) closely monitor multifamily program requirements under AB 341 to ensure recycling mandates are being met.  The City’s response states that the City completed all recommendations, except affixing recycling instructions onto recycle bins due to existing waste hauler constraints. However, the City will consider addressing this during the next bidding process, along with continuing to provide recycling instructions on the City and waste hauler websites and through ongoing community outreach.   

None.  

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve the attached response and authorize submittal to the Orange County Grand Jury.

By: A.J. Holmon III,  Environmental Services Manager