HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10311989 - IO.1 to: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS sE L
�,,�• of Contra
Jul.,
FROM: Costa
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE _K.:,;:;:,: ._ •s
County
DATE: October 23 , 1989 spa couN�
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON PLANS TO PROVIDE MORE ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR
RECYCLING USED OIL
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECONNENDATIONS
1. Support federal legislation similar to AB 1570 (Chapter
1226, Statutes of 1989) which requires that oil containers
include a labeling requirement warning the user not to
dispose of used oil improperly or, as an alternative,
providing signs or other written material to oil retailers
providing essentially the same information that would have
been placed on the container.
2. Request the Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee (a
joint Committee of the Solid Waste Commission and the
Hazardous Materials Commission) to review the letter
forwarded to the Board by R. J. Law of Bethel Island and
incorporate in their used oil collection and recycling
program provision for used oil to be collected at marinas in
order to prevent the illegal disposal of used oil in the
waters of the Bay and Delta.
3. Request County Counsel to review the draft report from the
Joint Committee on Household Hazardous Waste and consider
ways in which the Board of Supervisors could adopt
ordinances to implement the program outlined in the draft
report. In particular, we are interested in providing
incentives to service station operators and other private
businesses to establish drop off sites for household used
oil. Such incentives might include provision for the County
to accept the liability for such used oil collected from
households. Request County Counsel to provide a report to
our Committee on this subject January 8, 1990 . This report
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:Yes YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ,RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): TOM OWERS SUNNE WRIGHT McPEAK
ACTION OF BOARD ON' October 31, 1989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT-- I I I ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATEI SHOWN.
CC: ATTESTED—
See Page 3 . PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382 (10/88) BY -+tom/ DEPUTY
need not include the drafting of specific ordinances, but
should outline in general areas in which the Board of
Supervisors has the authority under current law to enact the
plans of the Joint Committee.
4. Request the Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee to
consider the establishment of drop off sites for used oil as
an acceptable alternative to curbside collection of used oil
and direct the Joint Committee to work with franchising
agencies and their franchisees to establish such drop off
sites.
5. Request the County Counsel to review the proposed language
for conditions of approval for land use permi,ts for transfer
stations to insure that the conditions are consistent with
the conditions provided for new landfill sites and provide
our Committee with a report on this subject on January 8 ,
1990 .
6. Request the Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee to
provide a report to our Committee on January 8, 1990 which
does the following:
A. Updates us on the results of their implementation
workshop December 8 , 1989 on used oil,
B. Provides our Committee with a report on progress which
has been made toward being able to implement their
plans on March 1 , 1990 ,
C. Provides our Committee with a specific list of actions
that will be taken toward putting a plan in place by
March 10, 1990 and which identifies specifically what
programs will be in place on March 1 , 1990 .
BACKGROUND:
On August 1, 1989 the Board of Supervisors approved a report from
our Committee which requested that staff and the Joint Household
Hazardous Waste Committee provide our Committee with a number of
reports on October 23 , 1989 .
On October 23 , 1989 our Committee met with representatives from
the California Service Station and Auto Repair Association,
Tosco, Pleasant Hill Bayshore Disposal, Shell Oil Co. , the State
Department of Health Services, California Waste Management Board,
Solid Waste Commission, Grand Jury, Health Services Department,
Community Development Department and County Counsel' s Office. We
reviewed all of the attached reports which provide a great deal
of useful information on the subject of used oil and progress
which is being made to address the problems with providing the
public with safe, legal and convenient ways to dispose of, and
thereafter for private industry to recycle, used oil.
We have developed the above recommendations based on the attached
reports and our discussions with those present at our meeting on
October 23 , 1989 .
We are asking that several additional reports be prepared so that
we can review them at our final meeting of the year on January 8 ,
1990 , following which we will make a final report to the Board on
this subject.
1 �i
cc: County Administrator
Community Development Director
Sheila Cogan, Resource Recovery Specialist, CDD
County Counsel
The Honorable June Bulman, Chair
Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee
Jim Hulshof, Solid Waste Commission
Robin Bedell-Waite, Health Services Department
Art Boswell, California Service Station and Auto Repair Assn
Ray Valone, Community Development Department
Richard Hallford, Tosco
Leif Peterson, State Department of Health Services
Patty Mehaouchi, Pleasant Hill Bayshore Disposal
Jim Cropper, California Waste Management Board
Judith Moorad, Shell Oil Co.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
TO: Internal Operations Committee DATE: September 20, 1989
Supervisor Sunne McPeak, Chairman FILE: R-8H
Supervisor Tom Powers
FROM: Sheila Cogan, Resource Recovery Speci
SUBJECT: HR2648 - Consumer Products Recovery Act, Introduced by Congressman
Esteban Torres
In response to your inquiry dated August 16, 1989, Congressman Estaban Torres
has introduced the -Consumer Products Recovery Act which amends the Solid Waste
Disposal Act by including a mandatory percentage for the recycling of used motor
oil by manufacturers and importers, as well as certain other recyclable
commodities. The bill establishes a recycling credit system for carrying out
the recycling requirement and establishes a management and tracking system for
used oil. It will also require that each package (such as a can) be labeled
with words to the effect: "Used oil is a hazardous substance. Do not dispose of
used oil in garbage, sewers, or on the ground. To find out how to properly
recycle used oil in your area, call 800- "
The bill requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develop a plan
which includes an incentive-based method or methods for accomplishing recycling.
This is a unique system under which deposits on the commodity are made and
refunds are given upon the return of the commodity for recycling (known as a
deposit-refund system) , defined as "A legal record of recycling activity
undertaken. . .that represents an amount of used oil recycled for purposes of
complying with this subsection."
Other commodities covered in the bill include:
1. Newspapers with daily circulation;
2. Used tires;
3. Used lead acid batteries;
4. Used pesticide containers;
5. Anti-freeze; and
6. Certain volatile organic compounds (including certain chlorofluorocarbons) .
The bill was introduced on June 14, 1989 and is presently in the House Committee
on Energy and Commerce. Congressional staff .indicates that it has received a
great deal of support. Environmentalists and industry representatives have
signed-off on the bill, with the exception of the American Petroleum institute,
which has remained neutral on the issue. There has also been a great deal or
interest on the part of financial institutions as the credit obtained through
the recycling deposit will be "bankable" and trends t.o make recycling companies
more valuable.
Other congressional legislation recently introduced will also affect used oil
recycling. Congressman Luken has introduced a bill to re-authorize the Resource
Conservation and Recover'y.Act which also includes a credit system.
As you are aware, a number of companies which would be affected by this
legislation have been invited to meet with the Internal Operations Committee to
address issues about used oil recycling in the County, at 9:00 AM, on Mondav,
October 23, 1989. The group includes representatives from oil companies, used
oil collectors, refiners, and service station organizations. The Joint
Committee on Household Hazardous Waste has also scheduled a training session for
franchisors and franchisees about used oil, latex paint and battery collecting
on October 13, 1989. By that date more information will be available on the
status of Congressman Torres' bill.
SC:jal
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1
The Board of Supervisors Contra Phil batchelor
Clerk of the Board
and
CostaCotCourrty Administrator
County Administration Building J <,$)3723
651 Pine St., Room 106 County Martinez, California 94553 l
Tom Powers, 1st District
Nancy C.Fshden,2nd District r
Robed 1.Schroder,3rd District ,.
Sunne Wright rr{cPeak,4th District ,
Tom Tortakson,5th District
SAME LEITER MAILED TO ALL
ON ATTACHED LIST
September 18, 1989
Jeff Craig
Chevron U.S.A.
P.O. Box 1272
Richmond, CA 94802 '
Dear Mr. Craig:
As you probably know, public interest in finding ways to properly dispose of
used motor oil is steadily growing. In response to this demand, as well as to
the significant environmental and public health concerns regarding improper
disposal of used oil, both the Contra Costa County Solid Waste Management Plan
and Hazardous Waste Management Plan urge the creation of household hazardous
waste collection and disposal programs throughout the County.
The Board of Supervisors is keenly interested in seeking solutions to this
serious problem and implementing programs to solve it. The members of the Board
extend an invitation to you to meet with them. on Monday, October 23, 1989 at
9:00 AM, to discuss ways to recycle used motor oil. The meeting will take place
in the County Administration Building at 651 Pine Street, Martinez, in Room 105.
Issues to be addressed include resources and potential impediments to used oil
recycling and methods to encourage and increase used oil collection from
residents in our County.
To implement these programs the County Solid Waste Commission and Hazardous
Materials Commission have formed a Joint Committee on Household Hazardous waste.
The Joint Committee is sponsoring a workshop, which I hope you will attend,
about starting household hazardous waste programs. The workshop will
concentrate on used oil, lead batteries and latex paint. It is scheduled for
Friday, October 13, 1989 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the George Gordon Center at
500 Court Street (at Escobar) in Martinez.
s• -
' r
For further information concerning either the meeting on October 23, 1989, or
the workshop on October 13, 1989, and to confirm your attendance, please contact
Sheila Cogan, Community Development Department at (415) 646-4196, by October 10,
1989. Your presence i`s greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
ToPowers, Chair
Internal Operations Committee.
TP:SC:jal
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cc: Supervisor Sunne kcPeak
Claude Van Marter
County Administrator's Office
Mark Finucane; -Health Services Department
June Bulman, Chair
Joint Committee on Household Hazardous Waste
AGENDA
Meeting with representatives of oil companies
Used oil recyclers and others
involved in used oil collection
Monday, October 23, 1989
9:00 AM
Room 105
County Administration Building
I. Welcome and introductions - Powers and McPeak
II. Overview of the work of the Joint Committee on
Household Hazardous Waste - June Bulman
III. Open discussion
- Market status
- Public education
- Liaison with Joint Committee
IV. Next steps
SC:jal
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OUR CURRENT SITUATION
* 80o increase in the amount of garbage collected
in twenty years
* 400 million gallons of oil spilled annually
in the United States--35 Exxon Valdez oilspills
* Contra Costa's household hazardous wastes include
46% used oil & 29% paint sludges
* Almost one million more gallons of used oil
could be recycled in Contra Costa alone
* 23 ,000 gallons of used oil were collected last year at
the E1 Cerrito Recycling Center; 700,000 gallons could
be collected countywide based on this effort
* 35 tons of latex paint could be recycled in the county
s f
USED OIL -- AN AVAILABLE RESOURCE
Total Amount Sold 100%
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Am unt Available far Rec clip 4 , ^ Ex; , .f. ri : 57%
a Y 9 r
Backyards, Landfills,
Surface
/Ground Waters
AmountCollected bHaulers
/
Water or Contaminants
Separated Out
Amount Currently Recycled 23%
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE:
USED OIL
Background Material for Meeting With
Representatives of Oil Companies and
Others Interested in Used Oil
Prepared by:
Contra Costa County
Community Development Department
Contra Costa County
Health Department
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. BACKGROUND Page 1
2. STEP 1: COLLECTION 3
3. STEP 2: REPROCESSING 6
4. STEP 3: SALES 6
j
1. BACKGROUND
THE PROBLEM
Used oil and paints are the largest, in quantity and volume, of all hazardous wastes
generated by Bay Area households. According to an Environmental Protection Agency-
funded study, the number of do-it-yourself oil changes is increasing nationwide due to the
rising cost of oil changes at service stations and the availability of inexpensive motor oil
at discount stores. However, gone are the days when every neighborhood-gas station
accepted used oil from do-it-yourselfers. Service stations that were once paid to collect
oil must now pay to have it hauled away. _ According to the California Waste Management
Board, statewide only 40 percent of recyclable motor oil is recycled.
Without convenient disposal, frustrated oil changers resort to pouring hazardous oil down
sewers and storm drains, in backyards and vacant lots, and in garbage cans and
dumpsters. Fluid oil will rapidly leach through porous soils and find its way into surface
and groundwaters. One gallon of used oil will contaminate a million gallons of drinking
water. Proper collection is essential. Equally important is resource recovery. However,
oil recyclers are now competing with low crude oil prices and markets that prefer virgin
oil to recycled oil. Businesses, service station representatives, and the public are
confused about legal disposal methods. The costs and liability for storage tanks are no
longer willingly borne by private companies nor public agencies as the market for used oil
has decreased. Meanwhile, state and federal regulations for used oil storage, recycling,
and purchasing are under review and the subject of numerous bills.
PREFERRED MANAGEMENT -- RECYCLING
The policies of the Bay Area Hazardous Waste Management Plan and all nine Bay Area
County Hazardous Waste Management Plans are based on a waste management hierarchy
that places reducing wastes and recycling wastes as the highest management priorities.
The hierarchy and its application to household used oil is outlined below.
The Waste Management Hierarchy Applied to Household Used Oil
Source Reduction -- marginally applicable,
Onsite Recycling -- not applicable for household oil,
Offsite Recycling -- MOST POTENTIAL,
Onsite Treatment -- not applicable for household oil,
Offsite Treatment -- unnecessary if recycled, and
Disposal -- unnecessary if recycled.
Recycling proves to be the best management technique available for used oil and is to be
encouraged at all stages of production, sale, use, and "disposal".
Source reduction is applicable only to the extent that the efficient use of oil minimizes
the amount needed by individual vehicles and equipment. Efficient use refers in this case
to maintaining vehicles and equipment in good working order, which has the added
benefit of reducing air pollution and reducing leaks that lead to soil and water pollution.
Oil analyzers are available to test the quality of used oil and evaluate when oil changes
are necessary, but today this equipment is very expensive. The only"long-life" oil on the
market today (made by Mobil Oil) is a synthetic oil. It cannot be added to and recycled
- 1 -
2. STEP 1: COLLECTION
This section discusses two successful methods of collecting oil from the public --
curbside pickup and drop-off centers -- and obstacles to establishing and expanding such
services.
CURBSIDE COLLECTION
Curbside colllection is by the far the most convienient form of proper disposal for at-
home, do-it-yourselfers. The Bay Area communities of Los Altos, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale
and Mountain View provide this service as part of their residential curbside recycling
programs. Sunnyvale collected 22,000 gallons last year. Mountain View, after an initial
flush of almost 1000 gallons, now collects about 600 gallons of oil each month. Mark
Bowers, Mountain View's reycling coordinator, contends that "Waste oil collection is
without a doubt the most popular and most environmentally beneficial component of our
curbside recycling service". At the start of this service, residents said they had been
saving used oil in garages, closets, and kitchens for years.
In Mountain View and Sunnyvale, residents are asked to leave used oil in gallon containers
at the curb with other recyclables. Plastic gallon jugs are available at no charge from
the recycling company. Recycling trucks are equipped with racks to hold one-gallon
plastic containers; the truck drivers collect the full containers and replace them with
empty ones. In other locales, trucks carry oil tanks. Full containers are emptied into the
tanks and empty containers disposed of in bins alongside.
In Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Resource Recovery Service in Martinez and Port
Costa Recycles provide curbside collection. The Martinez company reports that their
hauler has informed them that a fee of 35 cents per gallon for collection will now be
charged.
Section 252.50.15 of the California Health and Safety Code, exempts curbside collection
of used oil from the requirements for hazardous waste disposal. Programs must comply
with terms outlined in franchise agreements. Liability is assumed by the franchising
agency or hauler.
DROP-OFF COLLECTION
Drop-off services have been provided at many permanent and temporary locations
throughout the Bay Area. Historically, the most common sites were at service stations.
The number of stations accepting oil from the public, however, has dropped substantially
through the years, for reasons discussed below. Other"permanent" locations include
recycling centers; transfer stations; landfills; and city, county, and private corporation
yards. Temporary sites have included household hazardous waste collection days and
shopping malls. These sites and other options are discussed below.
Service Stations. The California Waste Management Board (Board) maintains a list of
service stations that collect used oil from the public. A random check of these sites
indicates that the charge for disposal ranges from$0.25 to $1.00 per gallon. This
information is available to the public on the Board's Hotline (1-800-553-2962).
- 3 -
own purposes. Relatively few of these retailers accept oil from the public, but could be
encouraged to do so.
There has been some discussion about establishing drop-off programs at points-of-
purchase, much like the California beverage container recycling program established by
AB 2020. Used oil "igloos" that look very similar to the recycled bottle and can igloos
common in many grocery store parking lots are available and have been located in some
areas. While this is a very convenient arrangement, there have been some problems with
empty oil containers left on the outside of the igloos. This problem could most likely be
alleviated with better education, a slightly different design of the igloos or bins, or more
frequent pick-ups.
Mobile Collection. Evergreen Oil has equipped an "Oil Mobile" to collect oil at shopping
centers and other much-visited locales. The Oil Mobile can collect 1500 gallons per day,
has been very popular, and collected about 97,000 gallons in 1988.
OBSTACLES TO GREATER COLLECTION
Factors hampering collection efforts are discussed topically below.
Low Oil Prices. Low crude oil prices over the past several years have had a detrimental
effect on oil recycling efforts. The price of recycled oil has paralled the falling price of
crude oil. Presently, the low price of crude oil gives refiners little incentive to purchase
reprocessed oil. Many refiners feel that it is cheaper in terms of actual costs,
paperwork, and convenience to purchase crude oil.
Because used oil has depreciated in value, haulers now charge service stations to pick-up
their used oil. Until mid-1985, haulers paid service stations about 40 cents per gallon.
When oil prices dropped from $35 per barrel to $7 per barrel, reprocessing occurred at a
loss. Now haulers charge service stations about 15cents per gallon, depending on the
total volume collected. Most service stations do not want to add to their hauling costs
by accepting oil from do-it-yourselfers.
Liability for Collectors. Increased liability and insurance costs have also taken their toll
on the willingness of service stations and other collecters to accept oil f rom the public.
Collectors assume the responsibilities of generator for everything stored in their tanks,
but often cannot control substances the public may knowingly or unknowingly mix in.
Contaminated loads rejected by the hauler are the responsibility of the collector and
must often be disposed of at great expense. In addition, occasional on-site spills caused
by oil left by the public may be dangerous and increase the risk of injury to workers or
the public.
Inconvenience for Residents. Inconvenient disposal is one of the most common reasons
stated by the public for improper oil disposal. Even residents who diWgently attempt to
locate drop-off centers are frustrated by the lack of assistance from local and state
agencies. Many organizations that once maintained referral lists have discontinued them
as the turnover rate for places that will accept oil is very high and maintaining accurate
lists almost an impossibility.
Inconvience for Collecters. When accepting oil from the public, collectors are faced
with occaisional spills to cleanup, disposing of empty containers, and the need for more
frequent pickups or more storage capacity.
- 5 -
5. PENDING LEGISLATION
Numerous bills have been introduced in the Legislature and Congress regarding used oil,
household hazardous waste, and hazardous waste facilities. Several bills are summarized
below.
STATE BILLS
AB 4 (Eastin) -- State Assistance for Recycling Markets. Assemblymember Delaine
Eastin has reintroduced last year's AB 3746, which was passed by the Legislature, but
vetoed by the Governor. AB 4 would enact the "State Assistance for Recycling (STAR)
Markets Act of 1989", which would establish State agency purchasing goals for recycled
oil, as well as recycled paper, glass, plastic, solvents (including paint), tires, and
compost. Purchasing goals for recycled oil would be 10% by 1991, 20% by 1993, and 40%
by 1995. This bill contains considerable language that could be drafted into local agency
purchasing policies.
AB 888 (La Follette) -- Mandatory Household Hazardous Waste Programs.
Assemblymember Marian La Follette introduced a bill that would require counties to
develop and implement household hazardous waste collection programs. The California
Waste Management Board would provide educational and technical assistance. In
addition, the bill would add a representative of used oil recyclers to the Board's 9-
member household hazardous waste advisory committee.
AB 1196 (Tanner) -- Permits for Household Hazardous Waste Collecticn.
Assemblymember Sally Tanner has introduced a bill to require the State Department of
Health Services to expedite its process for issuing permit variances for household
hazardous waste collection events and facilities.
AB 1208 (Tanner) — Liability for Hazardous Waste Collection Programs.
Assemblymember Sall Tanner has introduced a bill to grant local agencies immunity for
damage or injury resulting from collection programs operated by the agency. The bill
would also grant agencies immunity from damage or injury to participat is transporting
waste to the collection site and requires private firms operating programs for local
agencies to grant them immunity from damage or injury resulting from operations at the
colleciton site.
AB 1570 (Sher) -- State and Local Agency Purchasing Practices. Assemblymember Byron
Sher has introduced a bill to require stage agencies to eliminate purchasing procedures or
specifications that exclude recycled oil or require virgin oil, and require state agencies
to purchase oil from the seller whose product contains the greater percentage of
recycled oil, unless the product is (a) not available within a reasonable period of time, (b)
unable to meet reasonable performance standards, or (c) unavailable at a reasonable
price. The bill would also require local agencies to purchase "lubricating oil and
industrial oil from the seller whose product contains the greater percentage of recycled
oil if the availability, fitness, quality, and price of the recycled oil product is otherwise
equal to, or better than, virgin oil products".
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Assembly Bill No. 888
AB 888, La Follette. Household hazardous waste: collection
programs.
" . . .This bill would require that, at the next review of the COSWMP
occurring after January 1, 1990, a household hazardous waste plan
(HHWP) or a method to address the needs of households, as
specified, be prepared and attached to the COSWMP, thereby imposing
a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the board
to review and comment on the HHWP or method, as applicable, and to
make recommendations to the local agency, as specified. The bill
would require each local agency to certify to the board that the
agency implemented its HHWP* or method, as specified, thereby
imposing a state-mandated local program.
The bill would require that specified solid waste facility permits
also include a permit condition which precludes the solid waste
facility from accepting any solid waste originating in a county
which has not submitted a HHWP or method.
The bill would revise a statement of legislative intent concerning
access to household hazardous waste disposal, and would require a
county, city, or local agency, as specified, to implement the
household hazardous waste collection, recycling, and disposal
program identified in the revised COSWMP, thereby imposing a state-
mandated local program. The bill would specify that these
requirements do not prohibit the joint implementation of the
household hazardous waste collection, recycling, and disposal
program, as specified.
The bill would require the guidelines established by the board to
allow adequate flexibility to local agencies, as specified.
The bill would increase the membership on the advisory committee
to include a representative of used oil recyclers.
The bill would provide immunity to a city, county, or local agency
operating a household hazardous waste program for any damage or
injury caused by an action taken by the city, county, or local
agency, or employee or 'authorized agent of the city, county, or
local agency, in the course of the operation of the program, unless
the action is performed in bad faith or in a negligent manner.
The bill would also make related changes.
(2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by
the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making
that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason. "
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
TO: Internal Operations Committee DATE: September 20, 1989
Supervisor Sunne McPeak, Chairman FILE: R-8H
Supervisor Tom Powers
FROM: Sheila Cogan, Resource Recovery Species
SUBJECT: HR2648 - Consumer Products Recovery Act, Introduced by Congressman
Esteban Torres
In response to your inquiry dated August 16, 1989, Congressman Estaban Torres
has introduced the Consumer Products Recovery Act which . amends the Solid Waste
Disposal Act by including a mandatory percentage for the recycling of used motor
oil by manufacturers and importers, as well as certain other recyclable
commodities. The bill establishes a recycling credit system for carrying out
the recycling requirement and establishes a management and tracking system for
used oil. It will also require that each package (such as a can) be labeled
with words to the effect: "Used oil is a hazardous substance. Do not dispose of
used oil in garbage, sewers, or on the ground. To find out how to properly
recycle used oil in your area, call 800- "
The bill requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develop a plan
which includes an incentive-based method or methods for accomplishing recycling.
This is a unique system under which deposits on the commodity are made and
refunds are given upon the return of the commodity for recycling (known as a
deposit-refund system) , defined as "A legal record of recycling activity
undertaken. . .that represents an amount of used oil recycled for purposes of
complying with this subsection."
Other commodities covered in the bill include:
1. Newspapers with daily circulation;
2. Used tires;
3. Used lead acid batteries;
4. Used pesticide containers;
S. Anti-freeze; and
6. Certain volatile organic compounds (including certain chlorofluorocarbons) .
The bill was introduced on June 14, 1989 and is presently in the House Committee
on Energy and Commerce. Congressional staff indicates that it has received a
great deal of support. Environmentalists and industry representatives have
signed-off on the bill, with the exception of the American Petroleum Institute,
which has remained neutral .on the issue. There has also been a great deal of
interest on the part of financial institutions as the credit obtained through
the recycling deposit will be "bankable" and tends to make recycling companies
more valuable.
OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
C O N T R A C O S T A C O U N T Y
Administration Building
651 Pine Street, 11th Floor
Martinez, California
DATE: October 23 , 1989
TO: Supervisor Tom Powers
Supervisor Sunne W. McPeak
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
FROM: Claude L. Van Marter
Assistant County Administrator
SUBJECT: LEGISLATION ENACTED IN 1989 DEALING WITH USED OIL
As part of your discussion on used oil on October 23 , 1989 we
have prepared the following summary of legislation which was
enacted in 1989 dealing more or less directly with used oil. We
have identified four such bills:
AB 4 - Chapter 1094, Statutes of 1989 .
AB 817 - Chapter 1254, Statutes of 1989.
AB 888 - Chapter 809, Statutes of 1989.
AB 1570 - Chapter 1226, Statutes of 1989.
A summary of each of these bills follows:
AB 4 - Eastin, et al.
AB 4 requires that all state contracts must certify in writing
the minimum percentage of recycled content, both postconsumer
waste and secondary -waste in materials, goods or supplies
(including oil) used in the performance of the contract.
AB 4 requires that all local and state public agencies, fitness
and quality being equal, shall purchase recycled products instead
of nonrecycled products whenever available at no more than the
total cost of nonrecycled products. All local public agencies
may give preference to the suppliers of recycled products. All
local public agencies may determine the amount of this
preference.
AB 4 also requires all local public agencies and state agencies,
including the Legislature, to require the bidder to specify the
i
minimum percentage of recycled product in the products offered,
both the postconsumer and secondary waste content, regardless of
whether the product meets the defined percentages of recycled
product which is necgssary for the product to be considered a
recycled product. All contract provisions impeding the
consideration of products with recycled product must be deleted
in favor of performance standards.
AB 4 sets goals for the purchase of state products (including
compost and co-compost products, glass, oil, plastic, solvents,
paints and tires) , as follows:
By January 1, 1991 100 of the amount purchased of each item is
made of recycled material.
By January 1, 1993 200 of the amount purchased of each item is
made of recycled material.
By January 1, 1995 400 of the amount purchased of each item is
made of recycled material.
The combined purchases of all state agencies shall meet each of
the above goals for each of the products noted (except for
compose and co-compost products) .
AB 817 - Bader
AB 817 exempts from the Hazardous Waste Control Law used oil
transported between locations operated by the same generator if
the material is recycled at the last location and is not handled
at any interim location not operated by the generator.
AB 817, in defining "used oil" requires that in additional to
existing standards, used oil containing more than 1000 parts per
million total halogens also meet the EPA requirements listed in
paragraph (c) of Section 266.40 of CFR Title 40. AB 817 adds to
the purity standards which must be met to be considered "recycled
oil" that used oil containing more than 1000 parts per million
total halogens also meet the EPA requirements listed in paragraph
(c) of Section 266.40 of CFR Title 40.
AB 817 reduces the levels of PCB' s which are allowed as a part of
purity standards for "recycled oil" from 5 parts or less per
million to not more than 2 parts per million. The bill also
forbids meeting these purity standards by blending or diluting
used oil with crude or virgin oil.
AB 817 allows the use of used oil, recycled oil or oil exempted
from regulation because it meets the purity standards noted above
as a dust suppressant or weed control agent if in addition the
oil meet even tighter standards for the presence of lead, cadmium
and halogens.
AB 817 also eliminates from the existing prohibition against
intentionally contaminating used oil .with other hazardous waste
those who 'receive, transport, treat or recycle used oil.
AB 888 - La Follette, et al.
Current law requires that the County Solid Waste Management Plan
(CoSWMP) identify a program for the safe management of hazardous
wastes generated by households which should be separated from the
solid waste stream to the extent that the County determines a
need for this program.
AB 888 instead requires that when the CoSWMP is first reviewed
after January 1, 1990 a household hazardous waste management plan
shall be prepared by a County and each city within the County
which identifies a program for the safe collection, recycling and
disposal of hazardous wastes which are generated by households
and which should be separated from the solid waste stream. The
household hazardous waste plan must be in the form of an
attachment to the CoSWMP.
The State Solid Waste Management Board is authorized to comment
on and make recommendations to the local agency on revisions to
the plan. Each local agency must certify to the Board by January
1 of each year following the submission of the plan that the
agency implemented its most recently submitted household
hazardous waste plan.
AB 888 also requires all newly issued solid waste facility
permits to include a condition prohibiting taking any solid waste
from a County which has not submitted its household hazardous
waste plan.
AB 888 also contains legislative findings to the effect that each
household in the state should have reasonable access to legal,
convenient and environmentally safe methods for the disposal of
hazardous substances commonly found in and around homes.
Current law requires the state to implement a public information
program designed to assist the efforts of local governments and
other agencies to provide services related to household hazardous
substances. AB 888 revised this requirement to indicate that the
public education program should assist the efforts of counties
required to provide household hazardous waste collection,
recycling and disposal programs and local agencies authorized to
provide these programs.
AB 888 also adds language which requires that once the CoSWMP has
been revised to add the household hazardous waste plan and has
been approved by the County and the cities , the County must
implement that portion of the household hazardous waste
collection, recycling and disposal program which serves the
unincorporated area of the county and that the cities or other
appropriate agencies must implement the plan in their
jurisdictions. This language also allows joint implementation or
for another local agency to implement the program with the mutual
agreement of the involved local agencies.
AB 888 requires the State Solid Waste Management Board to prepare
guidelines and a state policy to guide the efforts of local
agencies to provide the household hazardous waste collection,
recycling and disposal program. The law also requires that the
Board' s guidelines allow adequate flexibility to local agencies
as long as the local agency' s program does not conflict with the
state policy.
AB 888 amends the existing language regarding a solid waste
collection fee to authorize an increase in the fee to offset the
cost of establishing, publicizing and maintaining a household
hazardous waste collection, recycling and disposal program.
AB 888 also adds one seat to the existing Advisory Committee on
Household Hazardous Waste Management and designates that this
seat be for a representative of used oil recyclers.
Finally, AB 888 holds cities, counties and local agencies
harmless for liability for any damage or injury, which occurs
while operating a household hazardous waste collection, recycling
and disposal program unless the action is performed in bad faith
or in a negligent manner.
AB 1570 - Sher, et al.
AB 1570 contains statements of legislative intent to now
establish a program to increase both the supply and demand for
recycled oil products in a manner consistent with current law.
The bill also contains legislative findings that new technology
currently employed by the recycling oil industry is capable of
yielding high quality oils equivalent to or superior to virgin
oil, that the industrial capability exists to readily meet an
increase in demand for recycled oil products and that the costs
of recycled oil are competitive with those of virgin oil.
AB 1570 requires all state agencies to revise their procedures
and specifications for the purchase of lubricating oil and
industrial oil to eliminate any exclusion of recycled oils and
any requirements that oils be manufactured from virgin materials.
The bill also requires every state agency to require that
purchases of lubricating oil and industrial oil be made from the
seller whose oil product contains the greatest percentage of
recycled oil, unless the agency certifies that a specific oil
product containing recycled oil is either not available within a
reasonable period of time, is unable to meet reasonable
performance standards or is more expensive than virgin oil.
AB 1570 requires that every state agency establish an affirmative
program for procuring oils containing the maximum content of
recycled oil, such program to include specified efforts to advise
the industry of the agency's preference for recycled oil.
AB 1570 also requires all local agencies to purchase lubricating
oil and industrial .oil from the seller whose oil product contains
the greater percentage of recycled oil, if the availability,
fitness, quality and price of the recycled product is otherwise
equal to or better than virgin oil products.
AB 1570 requires either the labeling of oil containers warning
the user not to dispose of used oil improperly or providing signs
or other written material to oil retailers providing essentially
the same information that would have been placed on the
container.
The bill also requires the California Waste Management Board to
maintain a toll-free telephone line which is to be used for the
sole purpose of informing callers of the proper way to dispose of
used oil and of the firms which are properly equipped and
authorized to accept used oil.
CLVM:nrl
usedoil
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 23, 1989
9:00 AM: REPORT FROM JOINT COMMITTEE ON HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTES REGARDING
LANGUAGE FOR CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR TRANSFER STATIONS
LAND USE PERMIT
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
FOR SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Household Hazardous Waste Program. The Transfer Station operator shall develop
a household hazardous waste collection%disposal program that is consistent with
the County Hazardous Waste Management Plan. The proposed program, along with a
schedule of proposed costs and funding sources, shall be submitted to the County
Community Development Department within one year of the opening of the Transfer
Station. If the household hazardous waste program, or a version of it, is
approved by the County Board of Supervisors and the program is funded, the
Transfer Station operator shall implement the program. Included in the program
shall be a plan, approved by the County Health Services Department, for
notifying the Transfer Station users and households in its service area of what
constitutes hazardous waste and how such wastes are to be collected and/or
disposed. The household hazardous waste program shall include a provision for
the on-site acceptance of used motor oil.
RV:jal
jl29:haz.lup
October 14, 1989 Page 1 of 2
President George Bush Governor George Deukmejia Co. Bd. of Supervisors
White House State Capitol 651 Pine St
Washington, DC 20500 Sacramento CA 95814 MartinezCA 94553
Dear President Bush, Governor Deukmejian and Contra Costa County Board
of Supervisors:
I am writing to you from a boat on the San Joaquin River Bethel Island,
California. My problem is 'How to get rid of oil extracted from my
boat after an of I change?' I have spent the last 3 days making a total
of 36 phone calls, including State and Federal Agencies that give me an
answer, 'There is no place!' Combined with this effort, I have
researched past efforts and interviewed local boat owners. I find the
problem has prevailed for years, the oil being disposed of by local boat
owners, of which there are over 2,000, into the sewers, into the River, on
the neighbor's yard and on the levees. This amount of oil over a period of
years, past, present and future could exceed the amount of of 1 spi 1 led by
Exxon at Valdez, Alaska. (A defunct recylcling center in Pacheco alone was
accepting 700 gallons of motor oil weekly in 1987)
1 will be happy to provide you with copies of Contra Costa County`s
interpretation of the State's publication "AB 2185"HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
RELEASE RESPONSE PLANS AND INVENTORY PROGRAM, for the past 3 years.
You will find in all that material -There is no place provided for the
individual to pour waste oil'_
I will also be happy to provide you with a list of local marinas, fire
stations, Waste Recycling Companies, etc., that do not have facilities for
disposal of either boat or motor oil from an individual and at least 2,000
plus other boaters like myself.
I suspect you will not give this the attention that you did the Alaskan Oil
Spill, but in the present, past and future the damage to environment, wild
life an mankind will likely exceed that amount.
/ . RCD
RM aw
PO Box 1 109 OCT 171,1Qfq
Bethel Island, CA 9451 1
PHIL BATCHFLOR
CLE7K BOARD' F SOPERVISCR�
COI' ' CO8TA CO.
By ......• Denuty
HOUS$HOM HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW) PROGRAM
WORK PLAIN FOR PHASE I 31 ION
DRAFT - AUGUST 211 1989
BACKGROUND:
The Household Hazardous Waste Committee was established in January,
1989 by the Solid Waste and Hazardous Materials Commissions. Its
charge has been to develop policies, program guidelines and
timelines to establish an ongoing system for the collection and
disposal of HHW. A major component of this system will also
include a public education program to encourage consumers to
purchase less toxic products, and to use and dispose of them
properly.
The committee is coordinating the following areas of
responsibility:
* developing collection/disposal options and logistics
* designing a public education campaign
* assisting the general public and reducing the amount of
HHW being generated
* promoting recycling efforts
* consulting with franchisors to develop franchise and
permit agreements
* consulting with franchisors to finance a collection and
disposal program
* researching liability issues and solutions
* liaisoning with regional efforts to reduce HHW and
promote collection and disposal programs.
Both the Hazardous Waste Management Plan and the Solid Waste Plan
encourages that HHW collection programs be established by
franchisees. The HHW Committee is overseeing the implementation
of these programs.
The Hazardous Waste Management Plan (Pages 6-8) and the Solid Waste
Management. Plan (pages 8-14) state:
Disposal: The public should be provided with safe, accessible, and
convenient locations to dispose of household hazardous waste. This
may be achieved by:
1. Promoting the recycling of household hazardous wastes,
such as waste oil, lead acid batteries, and latex-based
paints.
2. Requiring all waste collection companies and other
appropriate agencies or companies to provide regular
pick-up and or/collection points for household hazardous
waste recycling as appropriate. Franchisors and
franchisees are encouraged to work together to develop
and promote such programs.
3. Requiring solid waste transfer stations to operate
household hazardous waste collection, recycling, and
disposal programs.
4. Requiring commercial hazardous waste management
facilities to accept household hazardous waste at a
recoverable cost when no other alternatives are available
in the local area.
5. Advocating the adoption of State Legislation that would:
a. Encourage and facilitate recycling of hazardous
waste statewide through such mechanisms as tax
incentives, manufacturing reprocessing, market
development, and legal clarifications of recycling
definitions.
b. Reduce administrative, financial, and legal barriers
to household hazardous waste treatment facilities;
and
C. Develop financing mechanisms such as a surcharge or
deposit on products that become household hazardous
wastes to encourage the recycling, or proper
treatment, storage, and disposal of household
hazardous wastes.
The committee decided to split the establishment of a collection
and disposal program for household hazardous waste into two phases.
Phase I provides for the collection and recycling of used oil,
latex paint, and lead acid batteries. Phase II provides for the
collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of all other HHW.
This work plan addresses the implementation of Phase I of the
project. Used oil, latex paints, and lead acid batteries have been
identified because they comprise the bulk of the HHW waste stream,
and because there are viable recycling options currently available.
Phase I: Expand the recycling of used oil, latex paint, and lead
acid batteries in Contra Costa County. The following guidelines
must be followed when establishing these programs:
o Provide permanent facilities in at least four sectors of
the county (east, west, north central, south central) .
o Solid waste programs accepting used oil, latex paint,
and lead acid batteries can be facilitated by
establishing working relationships between their
franchisors (cities, sanitary districts) and franchisees
to provide either a drop off point and/or curbside pickup
as appropriate, or franchisee corporation yard.
2
o Develop screening guidelines to guard against
contaminated wastes being brought to the recycling
program.
o Assure that the programs are operating on a regular basis
(at least one time per month) and be readily accessible
to all communities in each franchisee service area.
o Develop guidelines on liability controls for accepting
wastes from the public.
o Integrate collection program into a long-term public
education program regarding waste minimization and
recycling.
The committee strongly encourages the coordinated efforts of the
county, cities, sanitary districts, solid waste collection
companies, community recycling centers and others to achieve
implementation of the program. The work plan is in draft form
only. It needs the approval and commitment of all key agencies and
organizations before it is adopted for implementation.
The following is a brief synopsis of the problem of each type of
waste, and local needs and resources to manage recycling. The next
steps needed for implementation with a proposed timeline is
included in the final section of the work plan.
USED OIL
BACKGROUND:
Used oil and paints are the largest, in quantity and volume, of all
hazardous wastes generated by Contra Costa households. According
to an Environmental Protection Agency study, the number of do-it-
yourself oil changes is increasing nationwide due to the rising
cost of oil changes at service stations and the availability of
inexpensive motor oil at discount stores. However, most
neighborhood gas stations are no longer accepting used oil from do-
it-yourselfers. Service stations that were once paid to collect
oil must now pay to have it hauled away. According to the
California Waste Management Board, approximately 40 percent of
recyclable motor oil is recycled statewide.
Without convenient disposal, frustrated oil changers resort to
pouring hazardous oil down sewers and storm drains, in backyards
and vacant lots, and in garbage cans and dumpsters. Fluid oil can
rapidly leach through porous soils and find its way into surface
and groundwaters . One gallon of used oil can contaminate a million
gallons of drinking water.
3
US$D OIL STATISTICS
YEAR CALIFORNIA 1987 CONTRA COSTA 1987
(estimates)
Volume of Oil
sold 243 million gallons 6.5 million gallons
Volume of Used
Oil Collected 81 million gallons 2.18 million gallons
Volume of Used Oil
Available for
Recycling 138 million gallons 3.72 million gallons
Volume of Used
Oil Recycled 57 million gallons 1.54 million gallons
Percent of Used
Oil Recycled 47% 41%
Amount of Used
Oil Unaccounted
For 81 million gallons 2.18 million gallons
LOCAL NEEDS AND RESOURCES:
Contra Costa has limited availability of used oil collection
programs. Many areas of the county have no reasonable access to
collection services, and the public who is trying to use
responsible disposal methods become frustrated when they are told
to drive several miles to -the nearest collection point.
The general public is also often confused and/or ignorant about the
proper disposal methods. A comprehensive public education campaign
is essential if there is to be an increase in the amount of used
oil collected in Contra Costa County.
Multiple resources are available to assist in promoting used oil
recycling. The county, cities, sanitary districts, garbage
collection companies, service stations and community recycling
centers can all play a role in developing the oil recycling
infrastructure in Contra Costa. The refinement and implementation
of this work plan will establish a comprehensive infrastructure of
used oil recycling options in Contra Costa.
4
GOAL OF A USED OIL COLLECTION AND RECYCLING PROGRAM:
The goals and benefits of oil collection and recycling systems are
to:
o Prevent oil, from entering landfills and potentially
leaching into surface and groundwaters;
o Prevent oil from entering storm drains and sewers, and
causing water pollution;
o Prevent backyard and other illegal dumping to prevent
soil and water contamination and accidental poisonings;
o Provide consumers with accessible and responsible methods
• of collection and recycling;
o Recover a valuable resource;
o Conserve the nation's and world's finite supply of crude
oil.
o Save energy and resources otherwise needed to develop
and refine virgin oil;
o Comply with state and federal hazardous waste laws.
OBJECTIVES:
(1) Franchisees provide either curbside or drop-off recycling
programs as described below.
(2) Other key participants (county, cities, sanitary
districts, community recycling centers, etc. ) coordinate
a spectrum of other recycling services for the community.
INTEGRATED APPROACH USING ABOVE OPTIONS:
Each community is encouraged to develop a collection program that
best meets local needs. By incorporating many of the above options
(particularly in lieu of curbside pick-up) the public can be served
with accessible and affordable disposal options.
CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAMS:
Curbside collection is by far the most convenient form of proper
disposal for at home do-it-yourselfers. The Bay Area communities
of Los Altos, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and Mountain View provide this
service as part of their residential curbside recycling programs.
5
In Mountain View and Sunnyvale, residents are. asked to leave used
oil in gallon containers at the curb with other recyclables.
Plastic gallon jugs are available at no charge from the recycling
company. Recycling trucks are equipped with racks to hold one-
gallon plastic containers; the truck drivers collect . the full
containers and replace them with empty ones. In other locales,
trucks carry oil tanks. Full containers are emptied into the tanks
and empty containers disposed of in bins alongside.
In Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Resource Recovery Service in
Martinez and Port Costa Recycles provide curbside collection free
of charge to their customers.
Section 25250.15 of the California Health and Safety Code, exempts
curbside collection of used oil from the requirements for hazardous
waste disposal. Programs must comply with terms outlined in
franchise agreements. Liability is assumed by the franchising
agency or hauler.
DROP-OFF COLLECTION:
Drop-off services have been provided at many permanent and
temporary locations throughout the Bay Area. "Permanent" locations
include recycling centers; transfer stations; landfills; and city,
county, and private corporation yards. Temporary sites have
included household hazardous waste collection days and shopping
malls. These sites and other options are discussed below.
Recycling Centers: Several recycling centers throughout the Bay
Area accept used oil. In E1 Cerrito, the E.C. Ology Recycling
Center collects approximately 500 gallons of used oil each week
(27,000 gallons annually) and at no charge to the public. At
present, California Oil Recyclers picks up the oil at no cost to
the center. Pacific Rim Recycling in Walnut Creek offers used oil
recycling at a nominal cost to the public.
Transfer Stations and Landfills: Most solid waste transfer
stations and landfills have for many years maintained tanks on-site
for their own used oil and accept oil from the public. These
locations are most convenient for small businesses that regularly
haul their own wastes to the station or landfill. As the
facilities tend to be in remote locations away from population
centers, they are relatively inconvenient locations for do-it-
yourselfers. Nonetheless, transfer station and landfill operators
report that their tanks are frequently used and they plan to
maintain this service.
6
Public Maintenance Yards: Generally every city and county
maintains one or more maintenance yards for its own vehicles and
equipment. In addition, many state agencies and special districts,
such as bus districts, maintain corporation yards throughout the
state. As these yards usually store used oil for their own
vehicles and equipment, they are natural locations for drop-off
collection. However, few localities have taken advantage of this
arrangement. Nevada City and Santa Monica have successfully done
so. Personnel requirements, and local fire and safety regulations
must first be considered.
Corporation Yards: Several private corporations have opened their
tanks to public disposal. Pleasant Hill Bayshore Disposal, for
example, accepts oil from its rate-payers at its corporation yard.
Drop-Off at Points of Purchase; Many places that sell oil, such
as service stations and auto supply stores, also provide oil
changes and maintain used oil tanks on-site' for their own purposes.
Relatively few of these retailers accept oil from the public, but
could be encouraged to do so.
Mobile Collection: Evergreen Oil has equipped an "Oil Mobile" to
collect oil at shopping centers and other much-visited locales.
The Oil Mobile can collect 1500 gallons per day, has been very
popular and collected about 97,000 gallons in 1988.
SERVICE STATION NETWORK:
The California Waste Management Board (Board) maintains a list of
service stations that collect used oil from the public. A random
check of these sites indicates that the charge for disposal ranges
from $0.25 to $1.00 per gallon. This information is available to
the public on the Board's Hotline (1-800-553-2962) .
The Board is working to establish collection networks comprised -of
haulers that transport used oil at no charge to the service
stations when they collectively guarantee at least 2000 gallons to
be picked up in a minimum number of stops. In exchange for the
free pick up, service stations agree to accept used oil from the
public without charge. The Santa Monica Recycling Program operates
a network.
San Mateo has made arrangements with fourteen service stations for
free public collection. In exchange, San Mateo has made collection
for these stations cheaper, and the county has assumed liability
for the oil collected from the public.
7
Ventura County encourages service stations by- reducing their waste
generator permit fees by 75 percent if the person issued the
license certifies that the station (a) maintains a used oil storage
tank or tanks with toe capacity for at least 100 gallons at each
licensed location, (b) accepts up to four gallons of used oil per
day without charge, and (c) conspicuously displays a sign
advertising willingness to accept used oil without charge.
LATER PAINTS
BACKGROUND:
Paint is one of the most common items used and stored in
residences. Paint products are widely used for painting interior
and exterior walls, ceilings, trim, furniture, fences and decks.
Included in this category are undercoatings, sealers, primers,
stains, preservatives, and other architectural coatings .
Homeowners typically repaint building interiors and exteriors every
5-10 years depending on the surface finish and exposure conditions .
Public areas and places with high traffic may be repainted more
frequently. Householders often have difficulty estimating their
paint needs and err on the side of buying excess paint rather than
risk running short. Leftover paint is kept for touch-ups and
future projects. Over the long term, the result is an accumulation
of partially-used or yet-to-be-used paints, solvents and associated
equipment on a shelf or in a cabinet. Older homes tend to have
large paint stockpiles from many previous painting projects. In
older neighborhoods (established before the predominance of latex
paints) , storage of solvent-based paints is common. Lead-based
paint - which is no longer manufactured or sold, may still be
stored among old solvent-based paints.
The most frequent disposal method for paints, according to a three-
city household survey, was in household trash. ( "Disposal of
Hazardous Wastes by Small Quantity Generators - Magnitude of the
Problem, " by Lorene Jackson Russell and Emy Chan Meiorin,
Association of Bay Area Governments, Oakland, California. 1985) .
Householders are often unaware that solvent-based paints are
classified as hazardous and are surprised when sanitation workers
refuse to accept paint cans. In some cases, householders resort
to illegal disposal. However, the majority of householders
continue to store paints for lack of any available safe disposal
methods. On such occasions when a community holds a household
hazardous waste collection event, the programs are generally
inundated by householders trying to relieve their homes of stored
paint.
8
It is important to note that Phase I of the HHW program will
address only latex paints, which are currently recyclable. Oil and
lead-based paints, solvents, and specialty products will be
addressed in Phase II of the program. Latex paint is not currently
classified as a hazardous .waste by the State Department of Health
Services. It is a waste disposal problem and recycling programs
should therefore be developed.
LATEX PAINT STATISTICS:
In 1985, ABAG and the University of Arizona conducted a study of
regular household trash from weekly pickups at 1,022 Marin County
single-family households ( "A Characterization of Hazardous
Household Waste in Marin County, California, " by William Rathje,
D.C. Wilson and W.W. Hughes. A report to the Association of Bay
Area Governments, Oakland, California. 1985) .
ESTIMATED AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD PAINT GENERATION RATE 1986 - 2000
Average Household Bay Area Contra Costa
1986 1.51 lbs/yr 1585 tons/yr 203 .8 tons
2000 1 .51 lbs/yr 1900 tons/yr 244 .3 tons
Paint and related products stored for months and years constitute
the greatest volume of materials brought to one-day household
collection programs in the Bay Area. In a series of collection
programs conducted for 12 cities in Alameda County in 1987, each
household participant brought an average of 26.82 pounds of
solvent-based paint products and thinners, and 25.12 pounds of
latex paints for a total of 51.94 pounds (Rathji, Wilson, Hughes) .
The household participation rate at these events is typically
around It.
ESTDCRTED POTENTIAL ANNUAL PAINT DISPOSAL
FROM LONG-TERM STORAGE 1986-2000
Average Household Bay Area Contra Costa
1986 51.94 lbs/year 545 tons/year 70 tons/year
1990 51.94 lbs/year 654 tons/year 84 tons/year
These are amounts stored in homes that would gradually be disposed
of over many years. Without a community hazardous waste collection
program, the paints would most likely be improperly put in the
trash, or taken in self-haul loads to landfills.
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LOCAL NEEDS AND RESOURCES:
At this time, the Pleasant Hill Bay Shore Disposal Company offers
the only drop-of f point for latex paint for Contra Costa residents.
They have a permanent location in Pacheco and a satellite location
in Antioch on a monthly basis.
An ongoing collection program needs to be developed by local
communities. The HHW committee can coordinate the planning of the
collection program.
GOALS OF LATEX PAINT RECYCLING PROGRAM:
* provide a responsible method for residents to dispose of
excess paint,
* reduce the volume of paint being improperly disposed of
in sewers, storm drains, trash, etc. ,
* reduce landfill disposal volumes and conserve limited
landfill capacities,
* recover a useful resource, and provide a product for use
by non-profit and civic organizations and groups with
limited funds.
•OBJECTIVES:
The most practical system for collecting latex paints is to offer
a series of centralized drop-off points throughout the county.
These drop-off points could be operated on a permanent basis, or
through special collection day programs in each city. Franchisees
must establish a latex paint drop-off point in their service area.
It is recommended that latex paint drop-off is provided
concurrently with used oil drop-off. Several logistical guidelines
should be adopted when operating a latex paint collection program.
* Keep white paints separated from pigmented paints. The
white paints can be bulked and used without recycling.
* Establish a scrap metal recycling program for empty paint
cans.
* The transportation of the paint to the recycler can be
costly. Communities should coordinate pick-up and
transportation of paint to the recycler in Southern
California.
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y t '
* Franchisees will be required to accept the costs of
recycling the paint. The recycled paint is returned to
the franchisee. A use and distribution system for this
paint should be developed with local communities .
Graffiti abatement programs, schools, community centers,
senior housing projects have all successfully used
recycled paint products at a tremendous fiscal savings.
LEAD ACID BATTERIES
BACKGROUND:
Lead acid batteries can pose a significant environmental health
hazard when not disposed of properly. Sulfuric acid, lead, solder,
and other metals can contaminate soil and ground water if batteries
are buried in the ground or are recycled improperly. For example
in Contra Costa County, Cook Battery in Oakley, formerly a car
battery recycling operation indicates the type of environmental
damage caused by improper disposal of batteries. Due to improper
industrial processes and disposal, serious soil contamination (more
than 1000 times recommended EPA limits) resulted and the site was
placed on the State Superfund list. Although there was no direct
public health impact from this contamination, . the potential for
contaminated drinking water or the exposure to children to lead
poisoning from.playing in neighboring yards does pose significant
concern for the proper disposal of lead acid batteries .
Most lead acid batteries are purchased and installed at service
stations, or by commercial mechanics and are therefore recycled
through established industrial routes. For example, Sears at Sun
Valley Mall sells approximately 500 lead acid batteries per week
and recycles approximately the same amount. Most people are
therefore exchanging their old lead acid batteries for new ones at
the time of purchase. The home mechanic has limited options,
however, and may well be illegally disposing of lead acid batteries
in the trash, burying them in the ground, or storing them in a
garage, tool shed or backyard.
While there are no exact statistics on the number of lead acid
batteries being stored at Contra Costa residences, experience of
household hazardous waste collection programs throughout the state
indicates there is indeed a need for collection points for
batteries being stored by home mechanics.
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CAR BATTERY STATISTICS
CITY QUANTITY COLLECTION METHOD/
PARTICIPANTS COLLECTED TIMEFRAME # PARTICIPANTS
San Bernardino 84 batteries 1987 - 88 Permanent
69 batteries 1987 - 88 Round Ups
110 batteries 1988 - 89 Round Ups
San Francisco 192 batteries First year Permanent
San Jose* 900 batteries 2 days 2200
Antioch* 238 batteries 6 days 400
Pacheco 93 batteries 5 months Permanent
It is important to note that the high volume of batteries at the San
Jose and Antioch programs was generated after extensive medial
advertising about the recycling program. This emphasizes the need for
continuous public education about the availability of HHW programs.
LOCAL NEEDS AND RESOURCES:
There are at least four battery recycling companies operating in Contra
Costa County. These companies are transfer stations for car battery
recycling. The drop-off collection points established under Phase I of
the Contra Costa Hazardous Waste Program can utilize these companies to
ship lead acid batteries to large industrial smelters and metal
recyclers.
THE GOAL OF CAR BATTERY RECYCLING PROGRAM:
o To provide a responsible method for residents to dispose of
lead acid batteries.
o To reduce the number of lead acid batteries being improperly
stored in garages or improperly disposed of in the ground,
trash, creeks, etc.
o To recover a useful resource for reuse in the manufacturing
of lead acid batteries and other metal products .
OBJECTIVES:
The most practical method for collecting lead acid batteries is to offer
a series of centralized drop-off points throughout the County. These
drop-off points can be operated on a permanent basis and be incorporated
with the used oil and latex paint drop-off points provided by each
franchisee.
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The logistics for the collection and storage of lead acid batteries
should pose no barrier to the offering of these services. Franchisees
will need to establish a relationship with a local battery recycling
company to accept the batteries that are collected. It is possible that
several drop-off points may want to pool the batteries collected so they
can be transported to the recyclers in bulk volumes.
COMMITTEE ACTION STEPS AND TIMELINE
ACTION MONTH
1. Work plan meeting with franchisees/ors 1. October
2. Report to Hazardous Waste and Solid
Waste Commissions and to the Board of
Supervisors 2. October.
3. Finalize draft work plan and sample
contract language 3. Nov-Dec
4. Establish implementation committee 4. December
5. Training on used oil and latex
paint recycling 5. January
6. Assist franchisors in developing contract
language and implementation plans for oil
and paint recycling programs 6. Nov-March
7. Establish used oil network with service
stations 7. Nov-Jan
8. Develop, fund, implement public education
campaign 8. Dec-ongoing
9. Goal for implementing Phase I HHW program
in Contra Costa County 9 . March
10. Require recycling programs in landfill and
transfer station permits 10. Long-Term
MA:md
8/21/89
oilrpt.ma
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