Dive Brief:

• Atascadero, CA's city council passed an anti-scavenging ordinance earlier this week.
• The measure is in response to increased calls to police about people sifting through recycling bins and garbage.
• It establishes penalties for people who take recyclable material.

Dive Insight:

There's a simple reason for the ordinance: The content of recycling bins helps pay for recycling programs. Atascadero Police Chief Jerel Haley told KSBY that recycling scavengers are "actually taking money out of the recycler's hands and as a result of that, rates are going to have to go up."