New Calif. Law Allows for Door-to-Door Hazardous Waste Collection

California now will have door-to-door household hazardous waste (HHW) collection with a new bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Senate Bill 456 will allow door-to-door HHW collection programs to transport and consolidate materials at exempt facilities before they are moved to a permitted processing unit. The bill was authored by Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) with the intent of discouraging illegal dumping and reducing landfill waste, the senator said in a news release.

Huff said previously the law required hazardous waste be transported to disposal facilities that often are remote and therefore costly. And the distance often discourages residents from using those facilities.

“The door-to-door collection method has proven to be more popular with many families because residential pick-up is made by appointment,” Sen. Huff said. “Collection of hazardous waste through these door-to-door programs averages 85 (pounds) per household. The end result is that more hazardous material is collected and properly disposed of. My legislation is designed to assist private business, promote better waste handling practices and eliminate the regulatory burdens that these new business models face.”