Section § 42650

Explanation

This California law allows the board to set up a research and development program aimed at supporting innovative ways to manage resources and reduce waste. The program focuses on several key areas, such as creating a central source for recycling research, partnering with universities for research, studying methods to prolong landfill life and recover resources, and exploring how to promote positive environmental behavior changes among people.

It also looks into the dangers of special wastes and incineration byproducts, creates databases on waste information, and helps local agencies tackle landfill space issues.

The board may establish a research and development program, based on priorities that are consistent with Section 40051, and designed to identify, develop, and refine processes and technologies that will assist state and local governments and private industries to implement innovative resource management and waste reduction programs. The board may conduct research and development programs, upon appropriation therefor by the Legislature, that include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 42650(a) Establishing, in coordination with the Department of Conservation, a recycling extension service within the board to serve as a central clearinghouse for recycling research information.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 42650(b) Establishing cooperative research and development facilities at universities and colleges in the state.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 42650(c) Developing a research program to study the feasibility of using disposal site mining technology to extend the life of existing disposal sites, recover valuable resources, and to reuse the reclaimed disposal site in an environmentally sound manner.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 42650(d) Establishing a research program to identify educational and promotional methods that can effect environmentally positive changes in human behavior.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 42650(e) Conducting studies into hazards posed by special wastes and by ash and air emissions from the incineration of waste.
(f)CA Public Resources Code § 42650(f) Conducting research to develop statistical tools to establish computer-based data bases on waste characteristics, special waste volumes, and county and regional waste capacities.
(g)CA Public Resources Code § 42650(g) Analyzing disposal site encroachment problems and assisting local agencies in the development of effective public policy tools to discourage disposal site encroachment.

Section § 42651

Explanation

This section states that when deciding what research and development projects to fund, the board should give priority to those based on a specific hierarchy of processes and technologies outlined in another section, Section 40051.

In determining the types of research and development which may be undertaken pursuant to Section 42650, the board shall prioritize the allocation of funds for processes and technologies based upon the hierarchy established under Section 40051.