Solid waste: franchise agreements: database.

Existing law establishes in the California Environmental Protection Agency the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, administered by the department, generally regulates the disposal, management, and recycling of solid waste. Existing law authorizes each county, city, district, or other local governmental agency to determine aspects of solid waste handling that are of local concern and whether the services are to be provided by means of nonexclusive franchise, contract, license, permit, or otherwise. Existing law requires the department to implement various state programs designed to encourage the reduction of solid waste, including, among others, a source reduction and recycling program for school districts, recycling programs designed to divert commercial solid waste and organic waste from businesses, defined to include public agencies, and requirements for state agencies and large state facilities to arrange for recycling services, as provided. This bill would require a jurisdiction or a public agency, as defined, to post on its internet website all current franchise agreements between contract solid waste and recycling haulers and the jurisdiction or the public agency. The bill would require the jurisdiction and the public agency to provide to the department the direct electronic link to those posted franchise agreements. The bill would require the department to create and maintain a publicly accessible database that provides direct electronic links to the posted franchise agreements. By imposing additional requirements on local agencies, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.