By Doug Brooms, Zero Waste Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, 4/14/22
Following up last night’s ZWAC meeting, we now know that there is a hearing on SB 983 before the Senate Judiciary committee chaired by Senator Umberg on 4/19/22 at 1:30pm where people can appear remotely and register their support or opposition and a link was shared on the chat to do so.Jenn Engstrom of CalPIRG and Liz Chamberlain of Ifixit.com both asked if NCRA members could contact their legislators to express support. SB 983 seems to be a lot like the plastic bag referenda in 2018 (as something NCRA would clearly support) where NCRA made a big effort to support the plastic bag bans with videos, phone trees, and in-person community outreach
At the ZWAC Showcase yesterday, the topic was Right to Repair. Zoom attendees included I believe four who were participating from New Zealand, including featured Recycling Pioneer Warren Snow, credited as the first person in the World to create “Zero Waste” in New Zealand as a goal. Attendees spoke passionately about SB 983, the need for Right to Repair as a Zero Waste issue, and urged NCRA to “help bust the monopoly on repair”. Jenn mentioned that Californians on average throw away 46,000 cell phones every day. Should the NCRA montra be fixed: “Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle”?
Below is a note from CPSC, urging support for SB 1256, another Bill that NCRA has signed on to support. SB 983 is also scheduled for the same Senate Judiciary Hearing on 4/19. Of the 11 Judiciary Committee members, only two represent the Bay Area, Bob Wieckowski in Fremont and Scott Wiener in San Francisco. If you are a constituent, then prior to the hearing, consider calling their Sacramento office to state that you support these Bills (Only takes a minute).
For the Tuesday 4/19 hearing, here is the agenda and sequence of the 29 scheduled Bills. For anyone willing to call in during the hearing to voice support for either or both SB 983 and SB 1256, see the Teleconference Instructions. Another Bill scheduled for 4/19 that you might consider is SB 1173 Public retirement systems: Fossil fuels: Divestment. Here is one article in support of the CA Divestment Act.
Consider forwarding this to constituents in other Judiciary Committee members’ districts. Thanks for any and all support and activism.
From Nate Pelczar, California Product Stewardship Council, 4/13/22
Just a quick note to please reach out to the following members in support of SB 1256, which is the bill we’re sponsoring regarding single-use 1lb propane cylinders. We ask that you reach out to these offices if you are in the member’s district and ask your member to support SB 1256 next Tuesday, April 19th, in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. I’ve also attached the original press release and the latest bill Q&A document for your convenience. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Yours in advocacy, CPSC Team
| Member | District | Offices | Party | Room | Phone | Fax |
| Borgeas, Andreas (Vice-Chair) | 8 | Fresno, Oakdale, Sutter Creek | R | 7240 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4008 | 916 651 4908 |
| Caballero, Anna | 12 | Merced, Salinas | D | 7620 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4012 | 916 651 4912 |
| Durazo, Maria Elena | 24 | Los Angeles | D | 7530 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4024 | 916 651 4924 |
| Gonzalez, Lena | 33 | Long Beach, Huntington Park | D | 7720 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4033 | 916 651 4933 |
| Hertzberg, Robert | 18 | Van Nuys | D | 8610 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4018 | 916 651 4918 |
| Jones, Brian | 38 | El Cajon, Escondido | R | 7140 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4038 | 916 651 4938 |
| Laird, John | 17 | Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz | D | 8720 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4017 | 916 651 4917 |
| Stern, Henry | 27 | Calabasas | D | 7710 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4027 | 916 651 4927 |
| Umberg, Thomas (Chair) | 34 | Santa Ana | D | 6730 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4034 | 916 651 4934 |
| Wieckowski, Bob | 10 | Fremont | D | 6530 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4410 | 916 651 4910 |
| Wiener, Scott | 11 | San Francisco | D | 6630 (1021 O St.) | 916 651 4011 | 916 651 4911 |