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AB-70 • 2026

Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: biomethane.

Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: biomethane.

Energy
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Aguiar-Curry
Last action
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date for the law's provisions.

Defining Pyrolysis and Adding Biomethane to Waste Rules

This law defines pyrolysis for waste management plans and requires state agencies to count pipeline biomethane made from organic waste toward local recycling goals by January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines pyrolysis as the thermal decomposition of material at elevated temperatures in the absence or near absence of oxygen for purposes of the California Integrated Waste Management Act.
  • Requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to amend regulations by January 1, 2027.
  • Adds pipeline biomethane converted exclusively from organic waste to the list of eligible recovered organic waste products for local jurisdiction procurement targets.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Cities, counties, and regional agencies that manage solid waste plans under the California Integrated Waste Management Act.
  • The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery in consultation with the State Air Resources Board.
  • Local jurisdictions setting recovered organic waste product procurement targets.

Terms To Know

Pyrolysis
Thermal decomposition of material at elevated temperatures in the absence or near absence of oxygen, as defined for this act.
Biomass conversion
The production of heat, fuels, or electricity by certain means from specified materials to help meet solid waste diversion requirements.
Pipeline biomethane
Gas converted exclusively from organic waste that is sent through pipelines for use as fuel and counts toward recycling targets.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Changes to Section 42652.5 related to AB 786 only apply if both bills are enacted and this bill (AB 70) is the last one enacted.
  • The official effective date of the law was not listed in the provided text.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Solid waste: organic waste: diversion: biomethane.