CalRecycle names El Dorado County a Recycling Market Development Zone

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), Sacramento, California, has designated El Dorado County as the state’s 39th Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ).

Within these zones, businesses that use recycled materials to make new products are eligible for low-interest loans, technical assistance and free marketing opportunities from CalRecycle. Local government incentives vary by jurisdiction but may include relaxed zoning laws, streamlined local permitting processes and reduced taxes and licensing fees.

“The designation of El Dorado County as California’s newest RMDZ will increase recycling infrastructure in the state and support local jobs at new or expanded manufacturing businesses,” CalRecycle Director Scott Smithline said. “The RMDZ program is key to bolstering California’s green economy while bringing the state closer to its 75 percent recycling goal and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.” 

The cities of Placerville and South Lake Tahoe joined with El Dorado County to request the creation of its new recycling market development zone. To become an RMDZ, cities, counties or a coalition of regional governments must do the following:

• submit completed materials, including application, CEQA documents, letters of support and resolutions from the lead and participating agencies; and
• commit to provide resources and business incentives to complement those offered by CalRecycle.

RMDZ programs are implemented by local zone administrators, who typically work in public works departments or economic development offices. Benefits to jurisdictions include increased revenues brought by new and expanding businesses and the jobs they create and from decreased costs of sending materials to landfills.