Bill to ease waste reporting for California nut processors passes first committee

A bill to exempt certain agricultural businesses from California’s organic waste reporting rules has cleared its first legislative hurdle.

Assembly Bill 1046, authored by California Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano), passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on a 14-0 vote. The measure seeks to ease regulatory requirements for agricultural crop preparation services such as tree nut hullers and processors, which say they divert all byproducts from landfills.

Under current law, businesses that generate edible food waste must maintain records and contracts proving their waste is either minimized or diverted for human consumption. AB 1046 would carve out an exemption for facilities that can demonstrate they have not sent organic waste — such as hulls, shells, leaves, and sticks — to a landfill since January 1, 2016.

Supporters argue that nut processors reuse nearly all their byproducts and should not be subject to the same reporting rules as traditional food generators.

The bill defines qualifying facilities using existing regulatory language for food processing establishments and crop preparation services. According to the bill, exempt businesses would be required to provide documentation to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery proving their waste has not been landfilled.

The Western Tree Nut Association and other industry advocates back the bill, saying current rules create unnecessary administrative burdens and costs for operations that already meet sustainability standards through reuse of organic byproducts.

AB 1046 still requires passage by both houses of the Legislature and a signature from the governor before becoming law.