The ideals and realities of circularity
September 7, 2024
The ideals and realities of circularity This article appeared in the August 2024 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content. Editor’s note:
The Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) program combines recycling with economic development to fuel new businesses, expand existing ones, create jobs, and divert waste from landfills.
This program provides attractive loans, technical assistance, and free product marketing to businesses that use materials from the waste stream to manufacture their products and are located in a zone. The zones cover roughly 88,000 square miles of California from the Oregon border to San Diego.
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Loans
The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers a Recycling Market Development Zone Loan Program to encourage California-based recycling businesses located within California financing businesses that prevent, reduce, or recycle recovered waste materials through value-added processing or manufacturing. Facilities must be located within a CalRecycle-designated RMDZ and use postconsumer or secondary recovered waste feedstock generated in California.
The purpose and importance of the RMDZ Program is set forth in Section 42001 of the California Public Resources Code:
“The purpose of this chapter [is] to stimulate the use of postconsumer waste materials and secondary waste materials generated in California as raw materials used as feedstock by private business, industry, and commerce.”
Additional background and legal information on the RMDZ Loan Program is available on the RMDZ Law and Policy page.
Manufacturing
The purpose of the RMDZ is to help create local markets for the processing, manufacturing, and marketing of products made from recycled materials. Businesses are eligible for a variety of state and local incentives and assistance if they use recycled or reused materials to make products, or if they can make their products out of less material than they did previously.
Marketing
The State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) is a joint effort between the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the Department of General Services (DGS) to implement State law requiring State agencies and the Legislature to purchase recycled-content products (RCP) and track those purchases. It complements the efforts of the Integrated Waste Management Act (Public Resources Code 4000 et al), which was enacted to reduce the amount of waste going to California’s landfills. An Annual Report detailing state agencies’ annual RCP purchase is due to CalRecycle by October 31 of each year.
The Recycled-Content Product Manufacturers (RCPM) directory showcases innovative recycled-content products made by California manufacturers who use recycled waste as a feedstock. RCPM puts you in touch directly with the manufacturers who make earth-friendly products. Whether you are a wholesale buyer, Procurement and Contracting Officer (PCO), or an individual consumer, use this listing to find recycled-content product manufacturers who make products, or intermediate products, designed with your needs in mind! Some manufacturers can even personalize their products to your specifications. Buying from these manufacturers also supports green jobs in California and the California economy.
Contacts
SoCal RMDZ
South San Diego/Imperial Co.
Manuel Medrano
Senior Recycling Specialist
Economic Development Department Services
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: (619) 585-5766
FAX: (619) 691-5006
Email: [email protected]
County: San Diego
CalRecycle Contact: Haley Aumiller
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