Recycling

Environment

Deal pulls California plastic trash measure from ballot

A bill negotiated by environmentalists, the plastics industry and lawmakers is keeping a California recycling measure off the ballot. The bill sailed through the Assembly on Wednesday night and the state Senate on Thursday morning, and the proponents withdrew the initiative just before the deadline.

By Sameea Kamal • June 28, 2022

Commentary

Vote to reduce plastics and clean up our environment

I have endorsed the California Plastic Pollution Reduction & Recycling Act, which will be on the ballot in November.

By Guest Commentary • March 2, 2022

Commentary

What can help get us through this drought

With very little water available, investments in our state’s water delivery systems coupled with conservation, storage and reuse are critical.

By Guest Commentary • April 23, 2021

Capitol

Rural, low-income Californians need recycling centers

Nearly 1,000 California redemption centers have closed since 2015, leaving remote places like Humboldt County with no centers at all.

By Guest Commentary • April 9, 2021

WhatMatters

Why has CA only used 35% of its vaccine doses?

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, January 5. New strategies on the way Three weeks after doses of the coronavirus vaccine began arriving in California, only 35% of them have ended up in people’s arms — raising questions about the effectiveness of the state’s vaccination strategy at a critical phase in the pandemic. California has administered […]

By Emily Hoeven • January 5, 2021

Environment

Legislature narrowly rejects nation’s toughest restrictions on plastics

A measure requiring manufacturers to reduce single-use plastics in landfills fails to win over Republicans and moderate Democrats.

By Rachel Becker • September 1, 2020

Capitol

Bad policy is not the answer to California’s recycling woes

AB 1080 and SB 54 fail to address the structural issues to ensure materials actually get recycled.

By Guest Commentary • August 29, 2020

Capitol

Lawmakers should reject one-size-fits-all approach to disposing organic waste

For years, our deli has recycled organic waste in a way that is inexpensive, good for the environment and beneficial for farmers, but AB 2959 would change that.

By Guest Commentary • July 22, 2020

WhatMatters

CA summer: school in July, curbside retail

Newsom details plans for what may reopen and when. Nursing homes hit hard by coronavirus. Rising sea levels spark coastal debates.

By Emily Hoeven • April 29, 2020

Environment

California analysts urge lawmakers: reject Gov. Newsom’s $1 billion climate loan proposal

The Legislative Analyst's Office warns California may not be able to spot the right projects to fund with a proposed green loan program. 

By Rachel Becker • February 13, 2020