Effective April 20, 2021
Overview
CalRecycle is committed to promoting and protecting the privacy rights of individuals, as enumerated in Article 1, section 1 of the California Constitution, the Information Practices Act of 1977, and other state and federal laws. We collect personal information only when necessary to conduct our business or provide service to our users. CalRecycle maintains information practices that encompass the requirements of the Information Practices Act (Civil Code section 1798 et seq.), the Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.), and Government Code sections 11015.5 and 11019.9. We communicate the purpose for which the information will be used at or prior to the time of collection in a privacy notice included on or with the form used to collect personal information. Any subsequent use will be consistent with the original purpose. Your personal data will not be disclosed, made available, or otherwise used for purposes other than those specified without your consent, unless authorized by law or regulation. We use security technologies to protect your information from loss and unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure by internal and external sources.
You have the right to know what types of information we gather and how we use it. You may review your information and bring any inaccuracies to our attention. Our policies regarding the personal information we collect and manage are governed by law, including the California Information Practices Act (Civil Code § 1798 et seq).
For more information on how we protect your privacy, please continue reading below.
How We Collect and Use Your Information
Personal Information
CalRecycle does not collect personal information (as defined in Government Code § 11015.5) from users who simply browse our website. Personal information (such as name, address, phone, and email address) is collected only if you provide it voluntarily through e-mail, forms, or surveys. This information is used only for its intended purpose–to respond to your inquiry or to improve the content or navigation of the website.
CalRecycle will not distribute or sell any electronically collected personal information to any third party without the user’s consent. Electronically collected personal information is exempt from the Public Records Act, and site visitors may request to review the information and contest its accuracy or completeness, and to have their information deleted by CalRecycle without reuse or distribution. To make such a request, please see the contact information below.
Email and Forms. You may choose to provide us with personal information via e-mail or a web form to comment or ask a question, or to request materials or services. We use the information to improve our service to you or to respond to your request. Sometimes we forward your email to other State employees who may be better able to help you, and this staff may be employed by a different agency or department within the State. Submission of an email to CalRecycle and/or communication through the website does not create any attorney-client or other privileged or confidential relationship. Accordingly, do not disclose any information to CalRecycle that you wish to remain private or confidential.
Surveys. Providing personal information on surveys is optional. You may choose to provide it so we can ask follow-up questions or provide survey results.
Confidential Information
As part of its regulatory responsibilities, CalRecycle collects information from program participants that has fundamental and meaningful value for the program via secure web forms. This includes information that has been specifically identified in regulation or statute, but can also include other information. Information collected for these purposes typically falls into four main categories:
- Identifying information fundamentally associated with a program, such as waste tire business name, owner name, e-waste recycler business name, etc.
- Information associated with identifying information that is relevant and also generally available publicly (e.g., business address, etc.).
- Information that would be considered confidential (as defined below) or personal or private information.
- Information that could reasonably be considered “trade secret,” as defined below.
“Confidential Information” is defined by the California Department of Technology’s Information Security Office as “information maintained by state agencies that are exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250-6265) or has restrictions on disclosure in accordance with other applicable state or federal laws.” (See SAM Section 5305.5)
“Trade Secret,” per Civil Code 3426.1(d), means “information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that: (1) Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (2) Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.”
CalRecycle identifies data fields that meet the above definitions and excludes these from public reports. These fields are identified for the user on the data entry form. Any information not identified as “sensitive” (including personal, confidential, or trade secret) may be made available to the public via various reporting mechanisms, unless exempted from disclosure by law.
If you believe that a required data field should be marked sensitive, and is not, address your concern to the contact shown at the bottom of the form.
Automatically Collected Electronic Information
If you do nothing during your visit to the web site but browse or download information, we automatically collect some information about your visit, which helps us to analyze and improve the content of our website and understand how people are using our services. This information does not identify you personally and is used for aggregating web site statistics. You have the right to have any electronically collected personal information CalRecycle collects deleted, without reuse or distribution. CalRecycle will not distribute or sell any electronically collected personal information about you to any third party without your written consent. Automatically collected electronic personal information is exempt from requests made under the Public Records Act. We also use cookies to assist you in using the site and to identify you as a return visitor, as described below.
Cookies. A cookie is a small data file, which may include an anonymous unique identifier, that is sent to your browser from a website’s computers. Cookies can contain data about user movement during a visit to the website. Session cookies are a mechanism for maintaining continuity during your visit on our site. These cookies go away when you leave the site, as they are maintained only in your browser’s active memory during your session. Persistent cookies are stored on your computer so that you can be recognized by the site on subsequent visits. Google Analytics uses persistent cookies, as described below. You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is sent. (Each browser is different, so check the “Help” menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.)
Google Analytics. CalRecycle uses a tool called “Google Analytics” to collect information about use of this site. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit this site, what pages they visit, and the sites they visited prior to coming to this site and immediately after leaving. We use the information we get from Google Analytics only to improve this site. Google Analytics collects only the Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to you on the date you visit this site, rather than your name or other identifying information. We do not combine the information collected through the use of Google Analytics with personally identifiable information. Although Google Analytics plants a persistent cookie on your web browser to identify you as a unique user the next time you visit this site, the cookie cannot be used by anyone but Google. Google’s ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to this site is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy. In addition, CalRecycle’s website is anonymizing IP information and only part of device IP addresses are being used. Consequently, no information identifying you or your device is being stored at Google. Learn more about how Google Analytics anonymizes IP addresses. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits to this site by disabling cookies on your browser.
Protecting Your Privacy
CalRecycle uses encryption technologies to protect the security of personal information during transmission and personal information is stored in secure locations. CalRecycle staff are trained on procedures for the management of personal information and access to personal information is limited to staff whose work requires it. Industry standard security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day practices of the entire State operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management.
There are things you can do to protect your privacy. Be sure to update your web browser and operating system regularly. For more information on how you can protect your privacy, visit the Privacy Enforcement and Protection page on the Office of the Attorney General’s website.
Contact Information
Please send any requests to access your personal information, requests to have your electronically collected personal information deleted, or general questions, comments, or complaints regarding this privacy policy to:
CalRecycle Privacy Officer
1001 I Street, MS 8B
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 341-6141
Privacy@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Past Policies
For more information contact: CalRecycle Webmaster, calrecycle.webmaster@calrecycle.ca.gov.