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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles City Council today called for the state to 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.
On March 9, the City Council passed a motion aimed at expanding its residential organics collection program from the current 18,000 customers to 750,000 customers by Dec. 31, in compliance with SB 1383.
CalRecycle, the state's recycling and waste regulatory agency, can issue escalating penalties for non-compliance.
``This city is going to have to pay a substantial amount for compliance with SB 1383, in the tens of millions of dollars or more,'' Krekorian said before Wednesday's vote.
The state legislation was introduced by Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge, and would direct CalRecycle and the California Air Resources Board to provide assistance, including funding, to local jurisdictions' organic waste diversion programs.
Krekorian said the legislation ``will provide some of the relief from the unfunded mandate nature of SB 1383,'' and that without financial assistance the burden will fall ``either on our general fund, which will mean a reduction in other services that the city can provide, or it will fall on ratepayers.
``Neither of those is a happy outcome,'' he added.
The City Council approved the resolution, 14-0.