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Two Los Angeles City Councilmen introduced a resolution today to support state legislation that would provide funding to organic waste diversion programs in Los Angeles and other California jurisdictions. The resolution, which was introduced by Councilmen Mitch O'Farrell and Paul Krekorian, contends that Senate Bill 45 would help Los Angeles and other cities meet the requirements of Senate Bill 1383, which took effect Jan. 1 and seeks to divert organic waste from California landfills.
``There is no city in California that has done more in the area of waste diversion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions than Los Angeles," Krekorian said. ``We were doing this before the unfunded mandate that is SB 1383 had ever been written. The state must provide financial assistance towards meeting CalRecycle's rigid requirements, which will allow Los Angeles to continue to lead California cities in combating methane emissions from the waste sector." The state legislation was introduced by Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, and would direct CalRecycle and the California Air Resources Board to provide assistance, including funding, to local jurisdictions' organic waste diversion programs.
The councilmen also said it would assist Los Angeles in its goal to achieve zero waste from city departments by 2025 and a 1-million-ton diversion of materials from landfills by 2025, which was adopted as part of the city's Green New Deal. ``Los Angeles is committed to environmental stewardship, and we have consistently led the way toward a carbon-free future,'' said O'Farrell, the chair of the Council's Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River Committee.
The resolution to declare the council's support for Senate Bill 45 will first be considered by the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee before a full vote by the full City Council.