School recycling programs.

(1) Existing law establishes the public school system in this state and, among other things, provides for the establishment of school districts throughout the state and for their provision of instruction at the public elementary and secondary schools they operate and maintain. Existing law authorizes school districts to establish and maintain a paper recycling program in all classrooms, administrative offices, and other areas owned or leased by the school district where a significant quality of wastepaper is generated or may be collected. Existing law requires the California Integrated Waste Management Board to develop and implement a source reduction and recycling program for schools in which schools are encouraged, but not required, to participate. This bill would express findings and declarations of the Legislature with respect to the potential benefits of school recycling programs. The bill would, until January 1, 2012, require each school district to establish a beverage container recycling program at each school campus and public office of that school district, but only to the extent that the district does not incur costs. Under the bill, a school district would be authorized to choose whether to operate its own beverage container recycling program, to contact its local Community Conservation Corps or another recycler to collect the beverage containers, to provide a beverage container collection program as a fundraising activity for the school district, or to continue a recycling program in existence on January 1, 2010. Because the bill would impose new duties on school districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the California Integrated Waste Management Board and the Department of Conservation to provide specified recycling supplies and materials to a school district to which the bill is applicable upon request of that district. The bill would authorize school districts to enter into an agreement or partnership with a public agency or private sector or nonprofit entity to obtain all or part of the supplies and information necessary for participation in the beverage container recycling program and to use the proceeds from the program for specified purposes. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.