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BACKGROUND The Alameda County Waste Management Authority Board and the Source Reduction and Recycling Board are known collectively as StopWaste.Org and function as one agency to provide waste management and program planning services in Alameda County. The ACWMA Board consists of elected officials from each of the seventeen member agencies. The Alameda County Waste Management Authority has reviewed and approved an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and adopted two ordinances that will help support its long-term waste reduction goals. The first ordinance requires recycling of certain materials by larger businesses and multi-family properties, requires material sorting by users of the Pleasanton Transfer Station and establishes fines and penalties for not complying with the ordinance. The second proposed ordinance prohibits distribution of single-use bags at check out for retailers largely defined as drug stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience food stores etc Section 3.Q (Attachment D). Staff provided comments to Stopwaste.org regarding both the EIR and the ordinances through its participation in the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Further, the Pleasanton Waste and Recycling Committee (comprised of Mayor Hosterman and Councilmember Sullivan) met recently with the Executive Director of Stopwaste.org and his staff to discuss the Commercial Recycling Ordinance, including a request for amendments. A copy of excerpts of the information presented to the Subcommittee, outlining the ordinances is included as Attachment B. Copies of the approved ordinances are included as Attachments C and D. DISCUSSION As part of the implementation of the ACWMA Strategic Plan, two policies, a Mandatory Commercial Recycling Ordinance and a Single-Use Bag Reduction Ordinance have been approved by Stopwaste.org. Mandatory Commercial Recycling Ordinance According to StopWaste.Org staff, the purpose of this Ordinance is to improve diversion efforts beyond the baseline gained through public education and voluntary commercial recycling to assist it in reaching its 90% diversion target. The Ordinance requires all Alameda County businesses that generate four cubic yards or more of garbage per week to segregate recyclable materials by July 1, 2012 (Phase I) and requires all Alameda County multi-family properties (and businesses) to segregate organic materials by July 1, 2014 (Phase 2). Reporting and recovery requirements also pertain to Alameda County facilities/transfer stations that accept garbage and generators of waste that independently haul materials from covered jurisdictions to the landfill or transfer station. StopWaste.org staff will be responsible for enforcement, and action will be taken only if approved by the chief executive (or a designee) of the affected jurisdiction. Exceptions and waivers to specific elements of Page 2 of 4