Civil Rights and Title VI

 

 

Introduction

The Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle) Civil Rights Policy is to provide fair and equal access to the benefits of a program or activity administered by CalRecycle.

CalRecycle will not tolerate discrimination against any person(s) seeking to participate in or receive the benefits of any program or activity offered or conducted by CalRecycle.

Members of the public who believe they were unlawfully denied full and equal access to a CalRecycle program or activity may file a civil rights complaint with CalRecycle under this policy.

This nondiscrimination policy also applies, to the full extent authorized by law, to entities, including contractors, subcontractors, or grantees that CalRecycle utilizes to provide benefits and services to members of the public.

CalRecycle Civil Rights Policy

Access CalRecycle’s Complete Civil Rights Policy 

Download the CalRecycle Civil Rights Complaint Form 

If additional support or questions are needed, contact civilrights@calrecycle.ca.gov

 

Complaint Procedure

A civil rights complaint can be submitted to any of the following three government departments: the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

  • The complaint process addresses instances of discrimination within programs administered by CalRecycle and those involving its staff or contractors.
  • To begin the process, please complete the CalRecycle Form 118 and submit the form via:

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD)

  • The complaint process is designed to address instances of discrimination within State of California-funded programs.
  • To begin the process, an intake form can be filed and submitted in one of three ways:
  • More information on how to file a complaint with the CRD can be found on the CRD Complaint Process webpage.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

  • The complaint process is designed to address instances of discrimination against recipients of federal US EPA funding, such as CalRecycle.
  • To initiate the complaint process, a written document must be submitted in accordance with the required documentation outlined on the EPA’s “Filing a Discrimination Complaint Against a Recipient of EPA Funds” webpage.
  • The completed complaint should be sent via email or postal mail to the appropriate contact provided
    • Email: Title_VI_Complaints@epa.gov
    • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of External Civil Rights
    • Mail code 2310A 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460

Investigation

CalRecycle’s Civil Rights Officer, or a designee, may contact the complainant or their authorized representative with follow-up questions to collect all facts necessary to resolve the complaint. The Civil Rights Officer, or a person directed by the Civil Rights Officer, will conduct a prompt, neutral, and thorough investigation into the allegations. CalRecycle does not waive any statute of limitations that may apply as CalRecycle works with the complainant to resolve the complaint.

Determination

The Civil Rights Officer will review the facts presented and collected and reach a determination on the merits of the complaint based on a preponderance of the evidence. The Civil Rights Officer will inform the complainant in writing when CalRecycle has reached a determination on the merits of the discrimination complaint.

Retaliation Prohibited

CalRecycle will not tolerate retaliation against a complainant or a participant in the complaint process. Anyone who believes that they have been subject to retaliation may file a retaliation complaint with CalRecycle
E-mail civilrights@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Questions and Alternate Formats

If you require the Civil Rights Policy or Complaint Form to be made available in an alternate format (i.e., Braille, large print) or another language or for any other questions regarding CalRecycle’s Civil Rights Policy and Discrimination Complaint Process, email civilrights@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Confidentiality

CalRecycle strives to protect the confidentiality of the complainant and all participants in the civil rights complaint process to the greatest extent possible and as authorized by law. The nature of this process does not permit absolute confidentiality. The Civil Rights Officer may release information as necessary to resolve this complaint. Also, if in the course of reviewing and investigating a complaint, CalRecycle learns of information that so warrants, CalRecycle reserves the right to initiate a separate personnel investigation and to release information provided during the complaint process to appropriate CalRecycle personnel and outside parties, including the State Personnel Board in connection with any such personnel investigation or proceeding.

 

CalRecycle will accept anonymous complaints and will investigate them to the fullest extent possible. Submission of an anonymous complaint, however, may impede CalRecycle’s ability to collect facts necessary to resolve the complaint.

For more information contact: Civil Rights Officer, civilrights@calrecycle.ca.gov