Vote YES on PROP 67 to Uphold the California Bag Ban!

NCRA has taken a fervent YES position on Prop 67!  Please get involved, and share with others the importance of upholding the California Bag Ban!

Links to websites for more info and ways to get involved:

Protect Plastic Bag Ban Campaign
CAW Campaign
Surfrider Campaign

If Proposition 67 is approved by the state’s voters, it would:[1][2]

  • Ratify Senate Bill 270 (2014).
  • Prohibit large grocery stores and pharmacies from providing plastic single-use carryout bags and ban small grocery stores, convenience stores and liquor stores from doing so the following year.
  • Allow single-use plastic bags for meat, bread, produce, bulk food and perishable items.
  • Mandate stores to charge 10 cents for recycled, compostable and reusable grocery bags.
  • Exempt consumers using a payment card or voucher issued by the California Special Supplemental Food Program from being charged for bags.
  • Provide $2 million to state plastic bag manufacturers for the purpose of helping them retain jobs and transition to making thicker, multi-use, recycled plastic bags.

The American Progressive Bag Alliance, an opponent of the measure, is leading the campaign to repeal SB 270.[3]

The Money Behind Big Plastic’s Campaign

More than $6 million has been poured into an effort to challenge California’s plastic bag ban on the November 2016 ballot. Behind the effort are four out-of-state plastic and chemical producers, channeling funds through the plastic industry’s astroturf trade group, “American Progressive Bag Alliance.” Led by ringleader South Carolina-based Hilex Poly and New Jersey-based Formosa Plastics which does not have any locations in California – these companies produce most of the more than 200 billion plastic bags generated in the US annually. View their financial contributions to the referendum campaign at the California Secretary of State’s Website.

Hilex Poly (South Carolina): The top contributor to the American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA) to overturn the plastic bag ban, having contributed $2.78 million since 2014. Hilex Poly has led lawsuits against municipalities with plastic bag bans and a reusable bag company, all in an effort to protect the lucrative California plastic bag market.

Formosa Plastics (New Jersey): The second largest contributor to the APBA, having contributed $1.5 million so far. Formosa Plastics parent company is suspected in a natural disaster in Vietnam, polluting 120-miles of coastlines and causing a massive fish kill off. In the U.S. Formosa has a long track record of EPA and OSHA violations for pollution and reckless safety standards that have resulted in various polluting violations and the death and injury of numerous employees.

Superbag (Texas): The third largest contributor at $945,719. Superbag is one of a group that has sued cities and other municipalities for banning plastic bags and launched a frivolous lawsuit against ChicoBag, a reusable bag manufacturer, which ChicoBag challenged and the group subsequently dropped, unable to make an actual case.

Advance Polybag (Texas): The fourth largest contributor at $939,333, Also a member of the group that sued municipalities for banning plastic bags and unsuccessfully sued ChicoBag.

Annual Member Appreciation Picnic – September 11, 2016

Join us for the annual MEMBER’S PICNIC hosted by NCRA and Zero Waste Youth USA!

Sunday, 9/11/16 12:00-4:00

Enjoy a day in the sun with BBQ, lawn games, frisbee, and hanging out with fellow NCRA members and friends!

Bring your family, friends, and coworkers!!!

NCRA & ZWY USA will provide all food & drink! Non-members and friends are encouraged to contribute $5, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Join us at Lake Temescal

Landvale PicnicArea 6500 Broadway North Oakland, CA

Need a ride? We can help! Let us know when you RSVP.

Please RSVP by Sunday 9/6/16:

ncra@ncrarecycles.org

Flyer Here!

Alameda County Grand Jury Report, 2015-2016

Oakland City Hall 2016
Oakland City Hall 2016

CITY OF OAKLAND’S COSTLY PURSUIT OF  ZERO WASTE FRANCHISE CONTRACT GRAND JURY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Grand Jury received numerous citizen complaints concerning increases to garbage and composting collection rates in the city of Oakland as a result of the city’s new Zero Waste franchise contracts. The Grand Jury also received citizen complaints that these 2015 franchise agreements for garbage and recycling collection had been awarded improperly; that garbage collection rates charged to Oakland businesses violated California law; and that $30 million in franchise fees paid to the city passed on to Oakland ratepayers are an alleged “illegal tax.”

The Grand Jury undertook a comprehensive investigation related to the solicitation and award of the city’s Zero Waste contracts. The Grand Jury determined that: (1) although intended, the city’s contracting process failed to achieve a competitive bidding environment; (2) the city’s contracting process was for all intents and purposes abandoned by the city council before the process was completed; (3) even though intended, the city’s contracting process lacked reasonable transparency; (4) collection rates paid by Oakland businesses and multi-family residences were markedly higher than surrounding communities; and (5) franchise fees paid by the city’s garbage collection contractor, passed on to Oakland ratepayers, are disproportionately higher than franchise fees paid to other Bay Area municipalities and special districts.

A franchise agreement is an authorization granting an exclusive contract by a government entity to a private enterprise enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities. Oakland ratepayers are the primary beneficiaries of the Zero Waste franchise contracts.

The city council owed a duty to, among other things, safeguard the ratepayers’ financial interests. Nevertheless, the city council failed its duty. Reasonable financial analysis of numerous ancillary collection services directly impacting rates was not performed, and there was little to no public debate concerning disproportionately high franchise fees. Read more… Alameda County Grand Jury (pdf) , Pages 31-42

City Administration Acknowledges Findings of 2015-16 Grand Jury Report

… Concluding the City’s Zero Waste franchise agreements was a lengthy and challenging process. We continue to evaluate aspects of the program that can be improved to better serve the public and will work closely with both our contracting partners to achieve those improvements.  Read more… City of Oakland

Background on the ambitious City of Oakland Zero Waste Program and timeline can be found on their website. Also visit oaklandrecycles.com.

President’s Report, July 2016

Hello all and happy summer! NCRA is pleased that during what is normally a slower time for us we are staying busy with lots of activities.

First of all, thanks to all those who joined us for NCRA’s mentorship mixer on June 15 at Oakland’s Classic Cars West bar and art space! We had over 20 participants join us for drinks, food, networking and a mentorship activity that gave less experienced members the opportunity to pick the brains of those more seasoned in the industry. We are shooting to have our next mixer in San Jose in the fall so please keep an eye out for that. Special thanks also to Recycle for Change for co-sponsoring the event.

Next we look forward to August when we will offer a tour as a preamble to our board meeting on August 18th. South San Francisco Scavenger is hosting us to tour their anaerobic digestion facility which began operation in 2015. Learn about this exciting technology and see the innovation behind it with your own eyes, ears and noses (spoiler – you can’t smell a thing!)

The tour will begin at 4pm and the meeting will occur immediately after, most likely around 5:30pm. Dinner as always will be free to members who RSVP for the tour and/or the meeting and will be served around 5pm. Non-members are also welcome to join with a $5 donation requested to cover food. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at ncra@ncrarecycles.org and click HERE for more details.

Last but not least NCRA’s annual Member Appreciation Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 11-3pm at Lake Temescal Park in Oakland. Games, food, sun and fun promise to ensue and the event is free to members. As always non-members are welcome with a $5 suggested donation to cover costs. More details will be posted to the website soon so please save the date!

— Laura McKaughan, NCRA President