2000 Annual Report: Letter from the Agency Secretary

Californians are justly proud of our commitment to a cleaner environment. It has been expressed in a variety of ways here in Sacramento. One of the most important was Assembly Bill 939, which embodied the vision of its author (then Assembly Member) Senator Byron Sher in creating the 50 percent benchmark for diversions from the waste stream. The target date for that goal has now arrived.

The Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB) has reached its goal year and it has helped California communities as they strive to reach or exceed the target. Our efforts are being noticed.

According to the 1995 and 1996 reports being formally reviewed by the IWMB, more than 60 communities have already reached or exceeded 50 percent diversion. Dozens more are in the 40 percent range. And statewide, our 2000 estimate is that 42 percent of all of California’s solid waste is being diverted from landfills.

In all, approximately 167 million tons of waste have been kept out of landfills since 1990. Source reduction, grasscycling, composting, reuse, recycling—concepts foreign to most Americans a decade ago—have become more and more commonplace.

The Waste Board is maintaining its historic focus on helping California’s cities and counties continue to reach their 50 percent waste diversion requirements. At the same time, the IWMB  is dealing with additional issues involving waste reduction and safety.

The IWMB’s first effort is working with a number of State agencies to improve State government’s commitment to recycling and buying recycled-content products.

Cal/EPA, the Waste Board, the Department of Resources, and the Department of General Services are working to institutionalize policies and procedures to support green procurement throughout State government.

The Waste Board is also working closely with Cal/EPA and other State agencies to promote green building design. Besides encouraging the use of recycled-content products in construction, green buildings are also designed to improve indoor air quality; use energy, water, and other resources more efficiently; and provide a more productive environment for employees to work.

I’m proud that our new 25-story Cal/EPA building in downtown Sacramento is serving as a precursor to and laboratory for the even more comprehensive green building technologies planned for future State office complexes. The Waste Board has been a leader in helping us acquire high-recycled-content components in our headquarters. This is a greener building because of the Waste Board’s efforts. We expect our new building to be a nationwide example of 21st Century green building design.

Congratulations to the Integrated Waste Management Board, and here’s to the next ten years!

Sincerely,

Winston H. Hickox
Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency