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Vol. 21, No. 49
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Commission holds on plan review
Putting Brakes On Gas Station
Braving the cold
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Brentwood Planning Commission postponed plans to evaluate the design of a proposed 288unit Amber Lane apartment complex this week after a building company submitted a letter stipulating the project needs further review. The letter — submitted by attorney Kristina Lawson on behalf of Discovery Builders, Inc. shortly before the commission’s meeting was scheduled to begin — states further project review is needed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan and to address proposed impacts on the local fire district. “We respectfully request that complete environmental review of the proposed project be conducted see Review page 22
December 6, 2019
Brentwood City Council conducting noise study on proposed car wash/gas station. Page 5
Photo by Tony Kukulich
C
loudy skies and a chilly temperature of 41 degrees didn’t stop Jill Dalldorff, Adams Middle School cross-country coach and health teacher, from enjoying the sixth annual Brentwood Turkey Trot, Nov. 28. Held on Thanksgiving morning, more than 2,100 runners participated in the 5k event. After-race pancakes were provided by the Brentwood Rotary Club, and funds raised benefited athletic programs in the Brentwood Union School District and Liberty Union High School District. Jackie Mancuso and Elliott Portillo were the top finishers in the To view a video and a female and male runner category, respectively. slideshow of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia
Fire Aides To The Rescue
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District hires fire aides to help support staff. Page 4
Recycling regs present challenges One For The by Deanna Gordon Staff Writer
Local consumers who want to be refunded the California Redemption Value (CRV) paid for plastic, aluminum and glass recyclables have had to look elsewhere since mega-recycler RePlanet closed in August. RePlanet, which had local operations in Brentwood and Antioch, was one of the largest recycling centers in California. It closed all 284 of its locations in the state after the business determined its operation was no longer profitable. These closures have left those in East County — and elsewhere — wondering where to redeem their recyclables. Few standalone redemption centers remain. According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
“ One challenge faced by grocery stores is that we
are a food retailer and required to take recycling material back in the store, which our stores are not built for the takeback, both for space and logistics.
”
Chelsea Minor, Raley’s corporate director, consumer and public affairs (CalRecycle), 40% of state-certified recycling centers have closed in the last five years. The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act dictates that retailers selling beverages under the CRV program have two options: Return the value of empty containers if the “convenience zone” in which they are located is not served by a standalone redemption center, or pay a $100
SAVE NOW
per day fee to the state. According to CalRecycle, a convenience zone is typically a halfmile radius circle (in urban and suburban areas) with the center point originating at a supermarket with gross annual sales of $2 million or more, and is considered a full-line store, selling dry groceries, canned goods, or non-food items and perishable items. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed
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Assembly Bill 54 (AB 54) on Oct. 12, which provides $5 million in subsidies to retailers affected by closures to help their business in the interim, but he said this is only a temporary fix for both consumers and businesses. Newsom wrote in a statement about the legislation that the bill is “an important but stopgap measure to address the recent closure of recycling centers throughout the state.” “The California Beverage Container Recycling Program has long faced structural challenges and is in need of reform,” Newsom wrote. “I look forward to working with the Legislature in the coming year on a comprehensive solution for this program as part of the ongoing discussion about the future of how we manufacture, reduce, reuse, see Recycling page 22
Letters To Santa www.thepress.net/news/webextras
A special mailbox has been set up at the Antioch Community Center for letters to Santa.
Record Books
Cornerstone Christian School wins first NCS football title. Page 14 Calendar................................23 Classifieds.............................19 Food..........................................8 Entertainment.......................9 Holiday Happenings ...........8 Legals ...................................20 Adopt A Pet............................5 Sports.....................................14
The Red Kettle
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BART is teaming up with The Salvation Army during its Red Kettle Campaign.