HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA - 08021988 - I.O.9 TO BOARD OF-SUPE'RVISORS z • 0. 9
FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE COt'1tra
July 25, 1988 Costa
DATE' Com"" "J
SUBJECT: Report on Litter Control Activities
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Request the County Administrator to write to the major tow
truck operators in the County reminding them of the
requirements of Vehicle Code Section 27700 which requires
that each tow truck be equipped with one or more brooms, and
that the driver of the tow truck must remove all glass and
debris deposited on the roadway by the disabled vehicle
which is to be towed.
2. Request the County Administrator to write to the State
Department of Motor Vehicles asking that they remind tow
truck owners of the requirement of Vehicle Code Section
27700 when the owner registers or re-registers his or her
vehicle.
3 . Request the Health Services Director to advise the Solid
Waste Commission in writing of the County Ordinance Code
requirement that anyone wishing to transport garbage or
refuse over County roads must obtain a permit from the
County and, further, request the Solid Waste Commission to
encourage each city in the County to impose similar
permitting requirements on garbage haulers who operate
within the city.
4. Request the County Administrator to prepare a Letter to the
Editor to be signed by the Chairman informing the public of
the permit requirements and encouraging members of the
public who may hire someone to transport garbage or refuse
to ask to see the company' s permit to do so.
5. Request the Health Services Director to check newspaper want
ads and telephone yellow pages and compare those listings
with the permitted garbage haulers in an effort to identify
any individuals or companies who may be advertising that
they haul garbage or refuse who are not permitted. In any
case where such an unpermitted firm is identified, . request
that the Health Services Director contact the firm and
remind them of the permitting requirements if they use
County roads.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATON OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
X APPROVE T ER
SIGNATURE(S1: Sunne W. McPeak pp Tom Torlakson
ACTION OF BOARD ON August 2, 1988 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERV190RS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT II AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
,�g�(
cc: County Administrator ATTESTED y /Q,�,ta X98. _
County Counsel PHIL BATC4%LOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Health Services Director SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Community Development Director
BY -tom ,DEPUTY
M382/7-83
Page 2
6 . Request the County Admihistrator . to prepare a letter from
the Chairman to the Municipal Court Judges Association
transmitting the attached proposal for an intensified litter ,
enforcement program, and requesting that the Judges consider
the Board' s proposal and respond to it at their earliest
convenience. Once a response is received from the Municipal.
Court Judges Association, request the County Administrator
to forward the response to .our Committee for review and ,any
additional action which maybe required.
7. Request the Health Services Director to write to the Solid
Waste Commission indicating that the Health Services
Department would be happy. to meet with any city to discuss
arrangements for the County to enforce the . city' s mandatory
solid waste subscription ordinance as it is doing with the
County' s ordinance, and requesting that the Solid Waste
Commission transmit this offer to . each city as well as
urging any city which does not have a mandatory solid waste
subscription ordinance to adopt the County' s ,ordinance.
8. Request the Health Services Director to write to each solid
waste,.;..f-ranchising agency in the County urging that the
agency'; nclude in its franchise agreement a requirement- that
the collector share information with the franchising, agency i
on non-subscribers, and that the franchising agency develop
a timetable for achieving full subscription on the part of
all residents of the franchising agency.
9. Request the Health Services Director to write to all
franchised garbage collectors in the County .calling to their
attention problems caused by refuse which falls off garbage
trucks, and urging. that they remind their employees that
.they should check regularly to ensure that all refuse is
securely contained, .within the truck at all times in such a
way that it will not blow or fall off the truck.
10. Request the Health Services Director to prepare a letter _
from the Chairma n to all franchised solid waste collection
companies in. the County urging that they cooperate with the.
County and their franchising agency in supplying information
on residents who do not subscribe to collection service so
that everylt-effort -can 'be made to achieve 10' .0% subscription
where an exemption to such subscription is not appropriate:
11. Request the Director of Community Development in setting up
the press conference ordered by the Board on May 17, 1988 on
the littering problem to schedule it for a Thursday or
Friday during September, 1988, and to include among the
,participants, the District Attorney, . Sheriff-Coroner,
Chairman of the Municipal Court Judges, Association, Police
Chiefs, Mayors, the Chairman of the Mayors Conference,
the . Chairs of the County. Planning Commission, the East
County Regional Planning Commission, the San Ramon Valley
Regional Planning Commission, a representative from the
State Solid Waste Management Board, the. Contra Costa
Cattlemen' s Association, and such environmental groups as
Keep America Beautiful, People , for Open Space, and
Californians Against Waste.
. 12.. Request the Director of Community Development to ask the
Solid Waste Commission to explore the current use of
styrofoam in beverage cups and other food ' containers;
explore possible alternative materials which can . either be
recycledor are bio-degradable, and prepare a report to the
Board of Supervisors on the feasibility, desirability, and
.realistic timetable for a phase-out and. eventual ban on the
use of styrofoam -in food containers in Contra Costa County.
Page 3
13 . Request County Counsel and the Director of. Community
Development to prepare a report for our Committee on the
feasibility of requiring fast-food restaurants, convenience
markets, and other "take out" establishments to patrol their
premises and the area at least 300 feet beyond the external .
boundaries of their property for litter , to pick up and
properly dispose of such litter, and to post a bond to cover.
the cost of litter cleanup in case the business .fails to
comply. Request that- this 'report be presented to our
Committee 'on October 24, 1988.
14. Request the Health Services Director to report- to our
Committee October 24, 1988 on the status of recommendations
3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 above as well as on :the status ' of
enforcement of the . County' s mandatory solid waste
subscription ordinance.
15. Request the Director of Community Development to report to
our Committee October 24, 1988 on the status of
recommendation No. 12 above.
16.. Remove as a referral to our Committee the March 8,' 1988
referral on the subject of stronger-. litter control
legislation, leaving on referral the reports requested in
recommendations 13 , 14, and 15 above:
BACKGROUND
On May 17, 1988, the Board of Supervisors approved a number of
recommendations from our Committee on the subject of litter
control. In addition; on July 19', 1988, the Board referred to
our Committee a recommendation from .Supervisor Torlakson
regarding the need to require ,commercial businesses to clean up
litter within 200 feet of their establishment. On July 25, 1988,
our Committee received the five attached reports addressing the
referralsthat were made by the Board on May 17.
We have carefully reviewed each of the attached reports and have
formulated the above recommendations in an effort to continue
addressing the problem of litter control in the County.
OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Administration Building
Martinez, California
Sunne Wright McPeak
Tom Torlakson
To: INTERNAL OPERATIONS Date: July 14, 1988
Requiring Tow Truck
Claude L. Van Marter Operators to Clean Up
From: Assistant Administra WY Subject: Accident Sites
On May 17, 19881 , the Board of Supervisors approved a
recommendation from your Committee that this office write to the
Sheriff, the CHP and each police department in the County urging
that they require tow truck operators to completely clean up
accident sites so that glass and car parts are not left abandoned
at the site.
We have placed a report on this subject on your agenda for July
25, 1988 at 11:00 A.M.
We have written to all of the law enforcement agencies as you
requested. We received one written reply--from the City of
Antioch--which is attached.
In addition, we received a telephone call from Moraga Police
Chief Bob Hughes. Chief Hughes called to our attention Vehicle
Code Section 27700. A copy of that section is also attached.
This section has been on the books since at least 1959 . Section
27700 clearly requires that all tow trucks be equipped with a
broom and that the tow truck operator "remove all glass and
debris deposited upon the roadway by the disabled vehicle which
is to be towed. "
Therefore, it seems clear that the law requires tow truck
operators to clean up an accident scene. There may at times be
an enforcement problem, but that is something of which all police
agencies seem to be aware.
CLVM:clg
cc: Sheriff Richard Rainey
Contra Costa Coumw
RECEWED
tq
All�s$O e a Il ��IGC � f�Jal HCnt JUN
, �J 0tl 2 1988
ANTI OCIi CALIF`ORNfI� 4509
Office of
L. K. HERENDEEN fi
CHIEF OF POLICE
June 2, 1988
Mr. Claude Van Marter
Assistant Administrator
Contra Costa County
County Administration Building
651 Pine Street, 11th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Mr. Van Marter:
RE: Accident Scene Clean Up
In Antioch, we have always required our tow truck operators to
clean up the glass and auto parts which are left behind at the
scene of a traffic accident.
Because your letter does not identify where the problem occurred,
I do not know if it was in Antioch. If it was it would be in
violation of our agreement with the tow truck operators. I would
wonder why our traffic officers did not insist that it be done and
if the tow truck operator refused, I would think our officers
would bring it to the attention of police management.
In any event, we share the opinion of the Board of Supervisors
that it be done and that litter not be allowed to remain in the
streets. It is not only unsightly, but would create additional
traffic hazards.
Sincerely,
i
i
L. K. HERENDEEN
Chief of Police
LKH:j p
cc: Supervisor Tom Torlakson,
Please direct all correspondence
.ouc. to the Chief of Police
9 Fe iV
a u �•e. � i .t
TOW CARS § 27700
HICLES Ch. 5
Div. 12
(e) Motorcycles, as defined in Section 400, without insignia.
seller or
• (Added by Stats.1979, c. 689, p. 2159, § 2. Amended by Stats.1980, c. 412, p. 814, III
semble a , § 1; Stats.1981, c. 340, p. 1499, § 2.)
marking
shall be .`l1
before It Historical Note
!i
The 1980 amendment inserted "Division" solid color;" in the second sentence substi-
have the _�;:�.
preceding"11" in the first paragraph and in tuted "These provisions shall not" for "Nor
11A,, subd. (b); in the second paragraph, first do these provisions;" and added subd. (d).
Eorcement F1s sentence, substituted "shall not" for "do The 1981 amendment inserted the esemp
not" and added that part following "one Y 6 I
which are
1 tion for motorcycles without insignia.
)lay signs X ;
>torcycles, Article 6
c. 340p. TOW CARS �f 'I
��
27700. Required equipment
,
Tow cars shall:
A,Nr°s'fr i1 �kil
400, without g (a) Be equipped with one or more brooms, and the driver of the tow I' ,
` car engaged to remove a disabled vehicle from the scene of an accident
shall remove all glass and debris deposited upon the roadway by the
�Y disabled vehicle which is to be towed.
r :r (b) Be equipped with and carry a shovel, and whenever practical the
tow car driver engaged to remove any disabled vehicle shall spread dirt
upon that portion of the roadway where oil or grease has been deposited 1,
prohibitedII
fl � by such disabled vehicle. i 4
x (c) Be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher of the dry chemical
the manner or carbon dioxide type with an aggregate ratin b'of at least 4-B C units II
l by a peace E and bearing the approval of a laboratory nationally recognized as proper
nforcing the 1Y equipped ui ed to make such approval.
pA E p I! '�
r Division ll (Stats.1959, c. 3, p. 1740, § 27700. Amended by Stats.1961, c. 529, p. 1632, § 1.)
�s which are `U s' �'
a 3 Historical Note �'Cff
.n or before
r The 1961 amendment rewrote subd. (c) ble of extinguishing a fire of flammable
,es which are i
2;, which had read: liquid."
" w 1
Be equipped with a fire extinguisher of Derivation: Veh.C.1935, § 586.5, see
�4
at least two quart capacity of a type capa- Derivation under § 25:302.
!ment of the
� .
} Cross References
�r Division 11 ���,� �
Y, Definitions, j
es exclusively l : Roadway, see § 530.
�� Tow car, see § 615,
g "mOVle Car Lighting equipment for tow cars, see § 24605.
Parking of utility vehicles, see § 22512.
les exclustvely _ Rules of the road, exemption of authorized emergency vehicles, see § 2105:1.
School bus, fire extinguisher, see Education Code § 39838.
ay + 549 (,
4
OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Administration .Building
Sunne Wright McPeak Martinez, California
Tom Torlakson .
To: INTERNAL OPERATIONS Date: July 1, 1988
Claude L. Van Marter Licensing of Garbage
From: Assistant Administra o Subject: Haulers
On May 17; 1988, the Board of Supervisors approved a report from
your Committee on litter control programs. Among the
recommendations which the Board approved was one which requested
this office to determine which County department licenses garbage
haulers, how many permits have been issued, to whom they have
been issued, and to report this information back to your
Committee. This report has been placed on your Committee' s
agenda for Monday, July 25, 1988 at 11:00 A.M.
In response to the specific questions raised by your Committee:
1. The Environmental Health Division of the Health
Services Department recommends the granting of permits
which are issued by the Board of Supervisors.
2 . Health Services Department records indicate that 25
permits have been issued between 1960 and 1984 , when
the last permit was issued. A number of these firms
are no longer in business or have been purchased by
other firms.
3 . A list of the individuals and firms to whom permits
have been issued is attached.'
I am requesting Mr. Bergman, or members of his . staff, to be
present at your meeting on July 25 to review this report with
you.
CLVM:clg
Attachment
cc: Clerk of the Board Sheriff-Coroner
Health Services Director District Attorney
Director, Community Development Dan Bergman,
George Roemer, Justice Programs Environmental Health
` J
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
To:
Claude Van Marter Date: June 10, 1988
7na'—Be4rgan
ty Administrators Office
From: subject: LICENSING OF GARBAGE HAULERS
Director of Environmental Health
Waste collection permits in Contra Costa County are granted by the Board of
Supervisors. The Board approves or grants the permit on the recommendation of
the Health Officer. Health Services Department records indicate permits were
issued as follows:
PERMIT NO. DATE - NAME OF FIRM
131 3/27/79 Timberline Disposal
101 8/2/60 Orinda Disposal
119 1/3/61 San Ramon Garbage Service
112 8/23/60 Rodeo Garbage Service
i 103 8/9/60 Valley Disposal
102 8/9/60 Diablo Disposal
105 8/16/60 Lafayette Disposal
113 8/2/60 Crockett Garbage Company
122 4/20/65 East Bay Sanitary
121 1/17/61 Oakland Scavenger
109 8/16/60 Martinez Sanitary Service
120 1/10/61 Livermore Disposal Service
110 8/16/60 Pleasant Hill Bayshore
106 8/16/60 Glen & Carolyn Lynch (Antioch)
125 12/16/69 Oscar E. Erickson, Inc.
114 9/13/60 Wilks Disposal
116 10/4/60 Richmond Sanitary Service
107 8/16/6.0 Pittsburg Disposal
132 12/18/84 Discovery Bay Disposal
130 3/13/79 Bayview Refuse Service
123 11/28/67 Brentwood Disposal
124 5/21/68 Carone Brothers
118 1/3/61 Central Valley Waste Service
108 8/16/60 Concord Disposal Service
111 8/23/60 Contra Costa Waste
Please note that some of the firms listed in the preceding no longer operate in
Contra Costa County. The areas previously served by those that have ceased
operating are now served by a company that does have a Board approved permit to
operate. For example, Concord Disposal acquired Wilks Disposal , Pittsburg
Disposal and Brentwood Disposal .
A-41 J/81
Claude Van Marter -2- June 10, 1988
It should also be noted that all of the permits were issued subject to cer-
tain conditions. Those conditions require identification of each vehicle
(on the outside of the vehicle), a means to contain the refuse securely
within the hauling body and that the vehicles be kept clean with no odor
nuisances.
(A2)LICGARBH
OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Administration Building
Martinez, California
To: SUNNE WRIGHT McPEAK Date: July 19, 1988
TOM ORLAKSON
INTERN ERAT COMMITTEE
From: GE RGE ER, Dire for Subject: LITTER ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR
Justice System Programs PRESENTATION TO MUNICIPAL
COURT JUDGES ASSOCIATION
The following program elements are suggested for an intensive monitoring
program for littering offenses:
1. Increase the bail schedule for littering offenses from $50 to an
amount which clearly identifies the nature of the offense as one
for which the span of severity can vary greatly.
2. Require mandatory appearance on all litter offenses.
3. Provide for written police reports on all litter violations which
, clearly identify the severity of the offense, with possible
inclusion of an estimated cost of correction figure.
4. Incorporate in the courts' judgment, in addition to an
appropriate fine, a minimum number of hours in an organized
litter clean-up program.
5. Create and impose a mandatory sanction progression for repeat
offenders, including development of automated system modification
for internally identifying such offenders.
6. Develop special sanction terms for corporations convicted of
littering which are comparable for litter clean-up conditions
imposed on individuals.
7. Refer fine collection to ORC for intensive collection effort.
8. Highlight arrest warrants and bench warrants issued on litter
cases for easy identification by service agency of the special
program enforcement nature of these cases.
9. Develop and implement computer program revisions to track all
litter case activities.
It should be noted at this time that the vast majority of littering cases
are infractions. These are generally filed with the Municipal Court by the
law enforcement agency involved and are handled by the Court Commissioners.
The District Attorney's Office does not appear in these matters, nor
MInte'rnal Operations Committee 2 July 19, 1988
generally on any other infraction matters. That Office has not been
staffed to handle any workload generated by the Municipal Court
Commissioners.
Staff Recommendation:
Refer the above 9 program elements to the Municipal Court Judges
Association for review and consideration, that such review consider the
impact (operational and fiscal) not only upon the Courts but upon other
justice agencies as well, and that the Municipal Court report back to the
Internal Operations Committee with its recommendations as to how to proceed
to implement a special litter enforcement program.
In its review, the Court should consult with any agency that would be
involved in such a program.
GR/j w
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
10. - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
TO: Board of Supervisors DATE:. July 19, 1988
Internal Operations Committee
FROM:
/aner an SUBJECT: Mandatory Solid Waste
, Assistant Health Services Director Subscription
Environmental Health
We have received lists of non-subscribers from three
local collection firms . Some of the companies have indica-
ted the information was not readily available so it will
take time to prepare an accurate list of non-subscribers .
It is our intent to begin notifying the non-subscribers
that we are currently aware, of beginning in August 1988. In
addition, we will immediately remind the collectors who have
not submitted lists of non-subscribers that. the requested
information must be filed without delay.
Environmental Health must be able to access the County
Land Information System in order to prepare and distribute
notices of non-compliance to the appropriate property
owners . We have been advised that we will be able to access
L. I . S. approximately 8/1/88.
The letter and attachment that we prepared for transmittal
to non-subscribers. will be reviewed by the County Solid Waste
Commission at their next meeting . A copy of that proposed
letter is attached for your review.
DB: jc
Attachment
cc : Mark Finucane, Health Services Director
Bill Walker, County Medical Director
C. L. Van Marter, Asst. County Administrator
=; -9 8/81 5M
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
►. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
n1
i
Sr'4 COUl1'�;
To : Contra Costa County Date : July 19 , 1988
Solid Waste Commission
From: Dan 4t Subject : Mandatory Solid
Waste Subscription
Attached is a letter we prepared for mailing to all non-sub-
scribers . The Board of Supervisors-Internal Operations Committee
directed us to submit the letter to your commission for review
prior to implementing the mandatory program.
It now appears that the program for enforcing mandatory sub-
scription should be underway beginning in August 1988. We would
appreciate your prompt review and comment on the attached. The
Board I.O. committee is anxious to have the program implemented.
DB:JB:ll
Attachments
cc: C. L. Van Marter
Mark Finucane
GA-9 8/81 5M
Coritra Health Services Department
Costa ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
County
Dear
Re: Mandatory Solid Waste Subscription
The Contra Costa County Ordinance Code, Chapter 418-6, requires
property owners to subscribe to solid waste collection service.
The ordinance further provides that trash containers of a specified
quality be provided. The ordinance also authorizes the Health
Officer to subscribe to a collection service for the property after
notice and opportunity to be heard is provided to the responsible
persons. The administrative and collection costs are assessed
against the property if not paid by the responsible persons. The
ordinance provides for an exemption from mandatory subscription
if it can be shown that the premises are unoccupied, collection
service is not available, or a public nuisance will not be created.
The most recent information available to us indicates your property,
described as parcel number , and located at
is not served by a collection company.
Please consider this letter as notice that you must subscribe
with a collector for pickup service. You must subscribe within
15 days of receipt of this notice or request a hearing before the
Health Officer to show cause why you should not be required to
,subscribe. If you fail to comply with the instructions outlined
in this letter, the county will subscribe with a collector to
serve -'the premises. The charges incurred by the county, including
administrative costs, may be levied as a special assessment lien
against the real property.
We look forward to your cooperation and please do not hesitate to
contact us if you have any questions.
;anie
i ce'rely,
C. Be Wan
Assistant Health Services Director
DB:ll
EnclRsure
eply : uestionnaire
Please or Ca .
❑ East/Central Office ❑ Occupational Health ❑West Office
1111 Ward Street 1111 Ward Street 39th St.&Bissell Ave.
Martinez,California 94553 Martinez,California 94553 Richmond,California 94805
(415)646-2521 (415)646-2286 (415)374-3141
Contra Health Services Department
Costa ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
County
We are asking your cooperation in completing the following
,questionnaire:
1. Are you now served by a commercial collection firm?
Yes No
2. If not currently served by a collector, do you plan to
arrange for this service within the next fifteen (15) days?
Yes No
3. Are the premises currently occupied?
Yes No
4. Are you requesting an exemption from mandatory collection?
Yes No
If requesting an exemption, please describe briefly why you
feel an exemption from mandatory subscription should be approved.
Signature of owner or occupant
Name: Date:
Address : Parcel Number:
Please Reply or Call:
East/Central Office ❑Occupational Health ❑West Office
1111 Ward Street 1111 Ward Street 39th St.&Bissell Ave.
Martinez,California 94553 Martinez,California 94553 Richmond,California 94805
(415)646-2521 (415)646-2286 (415)374-3141
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
TO: Internal Operations Committee DATE: July 19, 1988
Supervisor Tom Torlakson FILE: R-19B
Supervisor Sunne Wright. McPeak
1 .
FROM: David B. Okita, I
Assistant Director
SUBJECT: Litter Control Press Conference
In an Internal Operations Committee report approved by the Board on May 17,
1988, our department was requested to report on a possible press conference,
emphasizing the importance of addressing litter control issues and identifying
steps being taken by the Board of Supervisors.. Staff agrees with the idea that
a press conference would be valuable to advertise the actions anticipated to be
taken by the Board to improve litter control operations in the County. Our
department would be willing to coordinate this endeavor and recommends that it
take place in the month of September. One suggestion is that the press confer-
ence take place prior to a Board of Supervisors meeting, and that the County
.litter control crews managed by General Services Department be present along
with their vehicles in order to provide a photo opportunity.
We have. requested and received litter control information from the California
Waste Management Board that can. be used at the press conference. Some of the
information is attached. In December of 1987 the California Waste Management
Board started a statewide campaign called "California Cleanin'" to focus atten-
tion on litter control issues. One of the purposes of California Cleanin' is to
bring attention to AB 480, passed last year, which increased the fines oflitter
offenses (up to $1,000) and authorizes a court to require a litterer to pick up
litter. We can link our press conference with the statewide California Cleanin'
campaign.
The Solid Waste Commission will be discussing the litter control issue at their
August 3, 1988, meeting. In deference to the Commission, we would advise the
Internal Operations Committee and the Board to seek their involvement and input
into this issue. The Commission can be a valuable tool in getting the cities
involved in any litter control programs within the cities. The Internal Opera-
tions Committee report also suggests a workshop for city and ,County officials
concerning the litter problem. Staff recommends that this be considered at a
later date. One major reason is, that much of the city staff which might be
involved in litter issues are currently addressing the solid waste landfill
capacity issue. Another conference on solid waste issues may detract from the
more important issue of waste export and landfill. capacity.
If you have any questions, please contact me at extension 2071.
DBO/jn/150:iocom.mem
cc: Bart Gilbert, General Services Director
Solid Waste Commission
attachment
The California Litter Problem
The trashing of California is getting worse, not better.
J.
• Survey sites in areas with active into the evening.Accidental littering,
litter control programs had 24070 on the other hand,which is mainly
less litter than those in areas with- work-related, starts at 8:00 a.m. and
out ongoing programs. ends about 5:00 p.m.
• Only three percent of California The Hidden Cost of Litter
vehicles carry litter bags, compared
to an average 16070 in states with Aside from being an eyesore that
detracts from California's natural
more aggressive litter control
beauty, litter:
As the Golden State's population programs. Of the states surveyed,
increases, so does litter. Every week, California"had the lowest percen- • Lowers property values, drives
an estimated 85 million pieces of ' tage of vehicles with litter bags. away business,dampens tourism
Etter are thrown on California—for • California spends less than'half a and fuels neighborhood blight
a staggering yearly total of 4.4 billion penny per resident each year for —costing us millions in lost
pieces of trash. litter control,compared to cleaner revenue.
As litter increases, so does the cost of states which spend up to 50 cents • Pollutes water and increases the
cleaning it up. Estimates now put per capita on litter abatement. risk of accidental fire.
litter clean-up costs at$100 million With adequate funding over the . Threatens public safety—littered
per year, a high price to pay for next five to ten years, California glass and metal are a risk to bare-
simple carelessness. litter could be cut 4407o. foot children,cyclists and
In 1985 and 1986, the California The study ended with a warning: swimmers, while litter blowing
Waste Management Board conducted "Unless action is taken, California is from trucks is a major danger
statewide litter surveys to determine going to get filthier each year as the to motorists.
"
how the state's litter problem has Population and traffic increase. • Threatens public health by attract-
changed since 1974. The surveys Major Litter Sources ing disease-carrying pests. One
concluded that: city's litter control program cut its
Keep America Beautiful, a national rat population by an estimated 10
• Litter along California roadways anti-litter organization, has identified to 20 percent.
has increased 2407o since 1974. seven major sources of litter:
• 58010 of all littering is deliberate, • Motorists • Costs taxpayers an estimated$100million annually to clean up.
while 4207o is accidental. • Pedestrians
• Accidental littering is up 7507o • Construction Sites $1000 Fine for Littering
—the result of careless disposal, • Uncovered Trucks As part of an aggressive anti-littering
spills from trash cans, and material • Household Garbage Put-outs effort, California has enacted a
blowing from construction sites • Commercial Garbage Put-outs tough$1,000 fine for littering the
and uncovered trucks. state's highways and public lands
• Loading and Unloading Docks —whether deliberate or accidental.
• Littering of home food packag- National studies show that about
ing went up 9507o,newspapers So join the California Cleanin'
jumped 183070, and construction half of all litter comes from vehicles campaign against litter. Your support
material and debris climbed 239070. —3007o from passenger cars and will help save us all a lot of money.
2707o from pickup trucks(even
• Deliberate littering of convenience though pickup trucks comprise only
products declined 20070, while 10070 of total vehicles). California waste
beverage can litter dropped 6307o Management Board
(thanks mainly to aggressive recy- Deliberate littering reaches its peak 1020 Ninth street Suite 300
cling programs). during the middle of the day when Sacramento, California 95814
schools are out and continues late 916/322-3330
Portrait of a Litterbug
Who litters and why.
A special breed of insect is running • There is already an accumulation
loose in California, destroying our of trash at the litter site.
state's natural beauty. Other reasons for littering include:
This bug is attacking our highways,
cities, beaches and recreation areas ' A shortage of trash receptacles in
public places.
—and costing us about$100 million
every year just to clean up its mess. • Weak enforcement of litter laws.
These pesty outlaws are commonly • Simple carelessness.
called litterbugs. • Public indifference toward litter-
• A study by the California Waste bugs. (In Europe, it is not uncom-
Management Board shows that mon for a litterbug to have his litter
5807o of all littering in California handed back for proper disposal.)
is deliberate. California Cleanin'is determined to
• Based on national surveys, 80% of eradicate this costly pest. We're push-
all deliberate littering is committed ing for strict enforcement of state
by,people under the age of 29,75% and local litter laws and for more
of whom are male. litter receptacles in public places
(which can reduce Iitter 40-50%).
Surveys also reveal that.70010 of those
responsible for accidental littering We're also distributing litter bags to
California motorists and urging
are over age 30—almost all(96%)
truck drivers to tie down or cover
are men. Most accidental littering is
their loads.
work-related, and most is caused by
material blowing from uncovered But most important, we're working
trucks. to instill a new sense of pride in
According to a three-year study California and all the beauty it has
conducted by Keep America Beau- to offer.
tiful, litterbugs litter for a variety of So if you know any litterbugs,
reasons: don't be afraid to set them straight.
• They assume someone else will Whether accidental or deliberate,
clean up their mess. their actions hurt us all.
• They have no sense of personal
pride or "ownership"in the areas
they litter.
California Waste
Management Board
1020 Ninth Street Suite 300
Sacramento, California 95814
916/322-3330
Litter on California Highways
You'll find everything—even the kitchen sink.
In 1976, Caltrans removed 56,000 Everything from lumber and air
J . cubic yards of trash from California conditioning ducts, to furniture and
highways. This volume jumped to paint cans are found, and most of
176,000 cubic yards in 1985. While the time, drivers are unaware that
traffic rose 5001o,litter tripled. thay have lost a valuable piece of
A six-month survey in 1984 uncov- cargo—and caused a serious road
ered a host of littered materials along hazard in the process.
the state's roads and highways, Cover the Load
including: Debris blowing from uncovered
• a roll of carpet padding trucks is the most common form of
• cement pillars accidental littering in California.
• an 8' x 8' cargo box Since 1974, littering of construction
• diapers material and debris has climbed
• a roll of wire 239%.
• aluminum sheets Truck-blown litter is not only un-
* livestock feed sightly, but it can also be extremely
• calcium nitrate dangerous to motorists and highway
workers.
• bags of cement
• sheetrock The California Waste Management
• a tied bundle of shingles Board strongly urges all truck drivers
to carefully secure their loads and
• boxes of lettuce cover them with a tarp or net.
• a pitchfork
• 3 bales of insulation
• an open box of nails
California Waste
Management Board
1020 Ninth Street Suite 300
Sacramento, California 95814
916/322-3330
Litter Lifespan
An unsightly legacy that endures.
• 'C/�, The time required for some commonly littered objects to decompose.
Litter Decomposition Time
Aluminum Cans 80-100 years
Glass Bottle 1,000,000 years
Plastic Bags 10-20 years
Plastic Coated Paper 5 years
Plastic Film Containers 20-30 years
Nylon Fabric 30-40 years
Rubber Boot Sole 50-80 years
Leather up to 50 years
Wool Clothing 1-5 years
Orange and Banana Peels 2-5 weeks
Cigarette Butts 1-5 years
California Waste
Management Board
1020 Ninth Street Suite 300
Sacramento, California 95814
916/322-3330