WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

AB 643

Climate change: short-lived climate pollutants: organic waste reduction.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lori Wilson

AB 643 allows local jurisdictions to count organic material used as a licensed agricultural amendment toward recovered organic waste targets, if processed by authorized facilities.

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
#climatechange #organicwastereduction #short-livedclimatepollutants
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 643

AB 643 — Climate change: short-lived climate pollutants: organic waste reduction

Author: Wilson | Introduced: February 13, 2025
Status: In committee (hearing postponed) — most recent committee hearing postponements 2025-03-24, 2025-04-08, 2025-04-21

Purpose / Intent

AB 643 amends Section 42652.5 of the Public Resources Code to clarify and expand what counts toward a local jurisdiction’s recovered organic waste product procurement target. Specifically, it authorizes local jurisdictions to count organic material that is used as a beneficial agricultural amendment — when processed and licensed under specified state requirements — toward their procurement targets. The bill also makes a nonsubstantive wording change related to local jurisdiction authority.

Key provisions

  • Amends PRC §42652.5 to allow a local jurisdiction to include as part of its recovered organic waste procurement target:
    • Organic material that is used as a beneficial agricultural amendment, provided:
    • The material is processed at a facility authorized by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) using department-approved technologies; and
    • The material is licensed for end use as an agricultural fertilizer by the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
  • Retains existing regulatory framework requiring CalRecycle, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to adopt regulations to achieve statewide organic waste reduction goals (including goals set in Health & Safety Code §39730.6).
  • Preserves other existing statutory elements in §42652.5, including:
    • A requirement that at least 20% of edible food currently disposed be recovered for human consumption by 2025.
    • Flexibility for phased compliance and differentiated requirements based on jurisdictional progress.
    • Penalty schedule and procurement milestones (30% target by Jan 1, 2023; 65% by Jan 1, 2024; 100% by Jan 1, 2025) for jurisdictions failing to meet recovered organic waste procurement targets.
    • Rural exemption provisions (jurisdictions with certain rural exemptions remain exempt from collection and procurement requirements until Jan 1, 2037, with renewal processes).
    • Authority for local jurisdictions to charge fees to recover compliance costs.

Who is affected

  • Local jurisdictions (counties, cities) — gain additional, regulated options to meet procurement targets.
  • CalRecycle — implements and enforces regulatory criteria for facilities and allowable technologies.
  • CDFA — evaluates and licenses organic materials for use as agricultural fertilizers.
  • Organics processors and composting/digestion facilities — may see increased demand if they meet facility/technology authorization requirements and CDFA licensing.
  • Agricultural users/farmers — may receive eligible beneficial amendments recognized for local procurement goals.

Potential impact

  • Provides jurisdictions additional flexibility to comply with recovered organic waste procurement obligations by recognizing agricultural-use organic amendments that meet state processing and licensing standards.
  • May expand markets for appropriately processed organics and encourage investment in approved processing technologies and CDFA licensing.
  • Ensures counted uses meet state environmental and product-safety standards (processing authorization + CDFA fertilizer licensing).

Procedural history (selected)

  • 2025-02-13: Read first time; to print.
  • 2025-02-14: From printer.
  • 2025-03-24: Amended and re‑referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
  • 2025-03-25: Re‑referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
  • 2025-04-08 & 2025-04-21: Committee hearings postponed.

Other notes

  • Digest indicates majority vote, no appropriation required.
  • The bill does not change the substantive procurement schedule or penalty framework in §42652.5 beyond adding the accounting option described above.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.