California "Governator" Takes Aim at Waste Board

Date: June 15, 2009

Source: News Room

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger again wants to eliminate the state's Integrated Waste management Board (CIWMB) as part of his campaign to address the state's $24.3 billion deficit. Proponents of the agency say that it has helped California cut its waste by 50 percent between 1989, when the agency was created, and 2005 and that much of its $235 million budget is funded by landfill taxes and fees on the sale of tires, televisions and other goods. Critics of CIWMB, which has six board members and a staff of about 450 employees, charge that the board positions are essentially parking spots for political cronies. The Governor argues that the money it receives and which is guided by state law to be allocated to waste and recycling related programs would be better spent elsewhere. He would like to eliminate the board and split its responsibilities between the Department of Conservation and Department of Toxic Substances Control.

According to the Governor, "It is absurd for us to continue on as business as usual with those things when we have such limited amount of money," he said. "It's ludicrous to even debate this issue" (Matthew Yi, San Francisco Chronicle, June 14).

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