Effective July 1, 2013, pursuant to the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 2012, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery is moving to the California Environmental Protection Agency. The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery was previously budgeted within Natural Resources Agency under Organization Code 3500.

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery protects public health and safety, and the environment through regulating solid waste facilities, including landfills, and promoting recycling of a variety of materials, including beverage containers, electronic waste, waste tires, used oil, and other materials. The Department also promotes the following waste diversion practices: (1) source reduction, (2) recycling and composting, and (3) reuse. Additional departmental activities include research, permitting, inspection, enforcement, public awareness, education, market development to promote recycling industries, and technical assistance to local agencies.