IRVINE : City Stays Neutral on Composting Bill
The City Council has decided to remain neutral on a bill in the state Legislature that would give the Irvine Ranch Water District the right to operate a green-waste composting facility in the city.
Council members said taking a position on SB 1191 might indicate that the city supports the construction of a composting facility before a site was selected or an environmental review was conducted.
The council’s decision comes after months of talks between the city and the water district.
Originally, the bill would have amended the California Water District Act to allow the IRWD to operate both a composting plant and a waste water recycling facility.
But city officials raised concerns about the waste water project, saying it could pose environmental risks if built on IRWD property near the San Joaquin Marsh.
Reacting to these concerns, the IRWD decided recently to drop mention of a recycling facility from the bill.
If the bill is approved, the composting facility would be required to go through the city’s planning process and get approval from the City Council.
The composting plant would recycle “green waste” such as grass, leaves and branches.
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