HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01161990 - IO.4 I.O.-4
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
FROM: Costa
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE ots
x� i,,:•,_ :f .o� County
DATE: January 8, 1990 ��sTA couN� cP�
SUBJECT: REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT HOUSEHOLD
HAZARDOUS WASTE COMMITTEE AND RELATED REPORTS FROM STAFF.
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECONIl MATIONS
1. Request County Counsel to prepare and return to the Board of
Supervisors for its consideration an ordinance which would
prohibit the disposal of used motor oil, lead-acid batteries
and latex-based paints in the solid wastestream.
2. Consider, in conjunction with the Board' s consideration this
afternoon of actions needed to implement AB 939 (Chapter
1095, Statutes of 1989) , the appropriateness of designating
the Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee (a joint
Committee of the Solid Waste Commission and the Hazardous
Materials Commission) as the appropriate body to prepare the
household hazardous waste component of the newly required
Integrated Waste Management Plan.
3 . Request the Community Development Director to include as a
condition for the approval of any permanent transfer
stations in this County language proposed by the Joint
Household Hazardous Waste Committee as specified in County
Counsel' s memorandum to our Committee dated January 2, 1990
and attached to this report.
4. Adopt a position in SUPPORT of HR 2648 (Heinz) , the Consumer
Products Recovery Act, which would encourage recycling of
used oil by establishing a recycling credit system for
manufacturers of used oil, and by requiring labeling of oil
containers instructing consumers to properly dispose of used
oil.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: Yt-.-YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRA OR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE ER
SIGNATURE(S): TQM POWERS SUNNE WRIGHT MCPEAK
ACTION OF BOARD ON January 16 , 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT f ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED I�I9O
County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR,CL K OF THE BOARD OF
Community Development Director SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Health Services Director
Resource Recovery Specialist
Staff, Hazardous Materials Commission � -�Q./ DEPUTY
M382 (10/88)
5. Encourage the efforts of the Joint Household Hazardous Waste
Committee to address the needs of marina operators to have a
safe, convenient and legal means of disposing of used motor
oil from boats, as outlined in their attached report to our
Committee dated January 4, 1990 .
6. Encourage the efforts of the Joint Household Hazardous Waste
Committee to address the needs of consumers to have a safe,
convenient and legal means of disposing of used motor oil by
continuing to work with the service station operators on a
mechanism which will reduce the economic disincentive for
service station operators to accept used motor oil from the
general public as is outlined in the attached report from
the Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee dated Jan. 4,
1990.
7. Encourage the efforts of the Joint Household Hazardous Waste
Committee to implement their Household Hazardous Waste Plan
by working through the franchising agencies and their
franchisees and by providing training and public education
as is outlined in their attached report to our Committee
dated January 4, 1990 .
8. Request the Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee to
make a further status report to the Environmental Affairs
Committee as events warrant a further report and for this
purpose refer this matter to the Environmental Affairs
Committee.
9. Remove as referrals to our Committee the following:
A. November 1, 1988 referral requesting that the Community
Development Director consider incorporating a public
waste oil. disposal component in the household hazardous
waste program.
B. November 1, 1988 referral requesting the Community
Development Director to review the possibility of using
the interim or permanent transfer station locations as
sites for the receipt of used oil.
C. January 17 , 1989 multiple referrals on used oil from
the January 9 , 1989 meeting of the 1988 Internal
Operations Committee.
BACKGROUND:
Our Committee has had on referral throughout 1989 a number of
referrals dealing with household. hazardous waste, particularly
used motor oil, lead-acid batteries and latex-based paints, which
form the vast majority of household . hazardous waste. Our
Committee last reported to the Board on this subject October 31,
1989, at which time the Board asked the Joint Household Hazardous
Waste Committee to make further reports to our Committee on
January 8, 1990 and requested County Counsel to also make several
reports to our Committee. We received each of these reports on
January 8, 1990 and reviewed them with staff from the County
Counsel' s office, staff to the Hazardous Materials Commission and
Bart Brandenberg, representing the Joint Household Hazardous
Waste Committee.
We believe that substantial progress has been made this year in
planning for the safe, convenient and legal disposal of household
hazardous wastes, as is outlined in our recommendations above and
the reports which are attached.
The Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee has done a
tremendous job of outlining a household hazardous waste plan for
the County, working with industry representatives, franchising
agencies, and franchisees to develop ways to recycle household
hazardous wastes. The above recommendations have grown out of
the work of the Joint Household Hazardous Waste Committee and we
recommend their adoption by the full Board of Supervisors.
Contra Costa County
COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE RECEIVED
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY JAN 0 31090
MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA
Office of
Date: January 2, 1990 County A-:r n is±rator
To: Internal Operations Committee
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From: Victor J. Westman, County Counsel �t
By: Lillian T. Fujii, Deputy County Counsel
Re: Comment on Household Hazardous Waste Committee's
proposed condition of 'approval for transfer stations
SUMMARY: The language proposed by the Joint Household
Hazardous Waste Committee as a condition of approval for land use
permits for transfer stations is consistent with and does not
contradict the proposed model conditions for new landfill sites .
BACKGROUND:
On 10-31-89, pursuant to the Internal Operations Committee's
recommendation, the Board of Supervisors requested the County
Counsel' s Office to review a proposed condition of approval for
solid waste transfer stations . The proposed language was
developed by the Solid Waste Commission and Hazardous Materials
Commission' s Joint Committee on Household Hazardous Waste. This
office was requested to review the condition to insure that the
condition is consistent with the conditions of approval for new
landfill sites .
This matter is tentatively scheduled for Internal Operations
Committee consideration on January 8, 1990.
The proposed condition reads:
"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
Internal Operations Committee -2- January 3, 1990
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 . "
DISCUSSION:
We have reviewed the 9-25-86 Draft Conditions of Approval
for the Kirker Pass Waste Management Landfill and the 10-9-86
Draft Conditions of Apprvoal for the East Contra Costa Sanitary
Landfill . (The model conditions of approval are similar or
identical in most respects, and differ as between landfills only
as necessitated by physical differences between the landfills . )
The proposed condition of approval for transfer stations is
consistent with the proposed landfill sites conditions of
approval that we reviewed.
.The landfill conditions of approval neither require nor
prohibit the development or implementation of household hazardous
waste programs at transfer stations serving the landfill sites .
Therefore, the proposed transfer station condition of approval
is, at the very least, not inconsistent with the landfill sites
conditions of approval.
If anything, the transfer station condition of approval
supports the landfill conditions of approval . Specifically, the
landfill conditions of approval forbid the operators ' acceptance
and disposal of hazardous waste. Implementing a household
hazardous waste disposal program at the transfer station reduces
the likelihood of household hazardous waste contaminating the
waste to be disposed of at the landfill .
We note that the proposed language for the transfer station
condition of approval recommended by the Joint Committee is very
similar to the actual language of the household hazardous waste
program requirement condition imposed on the Acme Transfer
Station.
LTF/jh
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COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFF/CE
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA
Date: January 3, 1990
To: Internal Operations Committee �
From: Victor J. Westman, County Counsel tc
ax/
By: Lillian T. Fujii, Deputy County Counsel
.Re: Report on Draft Household Hazardous Waste Program Work Plan
for Phase I Implementation.
SUMMARY: Within the unincorporated area, the County can
generally implement applicable parts of the program outlined in the
draft Household Hazardous Waste Program Work Plan for Phase I
Implementation (hereafter, "Work Plan, " copy attached hereto as
Exhibit A) , through contracts with various parties (e.g. , haulers,
transfer station operators, etc. ) , or through appropriate
conditioning of land use entitlements and/or franchises . Ordinances
could be helpful in situations requiring legal restraints upon
people's conduct. For example, assuming latex paint continues to be
classified as nonhazardous, after a latex paint recycling program has
been implemented, the Board could pass an ordinance for the
unincorporated area regulating the disposal of latex paint.
After the Work Plan was first developed, at least two laws have
been passed which may have major effect on funding and implementation
of the Work Plan. They are AB 939 and AB 888, both of which are
briefly discussed.
BACKGROUND:
The Household Hazardous Waste Committee, composed of members of
the Solid Waste Commission and the Hazardous Materials Commission,
has been studying the problem of household hazardous waste (HHW)
disposal . After much study and work, the Household Hazardous Waste
Committee developed the draft document entitled "Household Hazardous
Waste (HHW) Program Work Plan For Phase I Implementation, " which sets
forth objectives and guidelines for a program to manage used oil,
latex paints and lead acid batteries . Used oil, latex paints and
lead acid batteries were selected for Phase I implementation because
they comprise the bulk of the HHW stream, and because viable
recycling opportunities are available for all three.
On October 23, 1989, the Internal Operations Committee met and
considered a number of issues concerning HHW, and reviewed the draft
Work Plan. Pursuant to the I .O. Committee's recommendation, the
Board requested that the County Counsel's office review the Work Plan
Internal Operations Committee -2- January 3, 1990
and report on ways in which the Board could assist in implementing
the program, such as by adopting ordinances or other means of
providing appropriate incentives to businesses .
DISCUSSION:
A. Used Oil. The Work Plan recommends that the objectives of a
used oil recycling program could be the provision of either curbside
or drop-off recycling programs by franchisees, and the coordination
of recycling services by other key participants (e.g. , county,
cities, sanitary districts, community recycling centers, etc . ). (Work
Plan, page 5 . )
The Work Plan encourages each community to develop a program
suited to its needs . (Page 5. ) If the County decides that a
curbside recycling program is appropriate for the unincorporated
area, such a program should be implemented by entering a contract
with a collector or other interested party.
The Work Plan also discusses the provision of drop-off collection
services at a variety of locations . (Pages 6-7 . ) To the extent that
drop-off collection services are feasible at landfills or solid waste
transfer stations, as recommended by the HHW committee, appropriate
conditioning of land use entitlements and/or franchises for such
facilities, to consider or require the provision of such services,
appears to be the most effective method for the county to facilitate
establishing needed drop-off centers .
Service Station Network
The Work Plan reports that the California Waste Management Board
(to be replaced by the California Integrated Waste Management Board)
is working to establish a used oil collection network comprised of
service stations, and notes that San Mateo County has made
arrangements with fourteen service stations for free collection of
used oil from the public, by making collection cheaper for the
stations and by agreeing to assume liability for oil collected from
the public. (Page 7 . )
Staff has since advised us that the above report concerning San
Mateo County was based on an ABAG report that was in fact incorrect.
Neither this office not the Health Services Department recommends
that the County assume liability for used oil for private service
stations .
At this time, the HHW Committee and the Health Services
Department are further investigating the pros and cons of a Ventura
County Program which may involve reduction of hazardous waste
generator fees in exchange for limited acceptance of used oil from
the public. The Health Services Department anticipates having a
report available for the Committee on 1-8-90.
Internal Operations Committee -3- January 3, 1990
B. Latex Paints.
Latex paints are discussed on pages 8-11 of the Work Plan. Under
the "Objectives" heading, (page 10) , the HHW Committee reports that
the most practical system for collecting latex paints is to offer a
series of centralized drop-off points . The County could assist in
meeting this objective by requiring the provision of such services as
a condition of a transfer station land use entitlement and/or
franchise.
The Work Plan (page 9 , paragraph 1 ) notes that latex paint is not
currently classified as a hazardous waste by the State Department of
Health Services . If, at the time the Board establishes a latex paint
recycling program, latex paint is not classified as a hazardous
waste, the Board may wish to consider adopting an ordinance for the
unincorporated area regulating the disposal of latex paint.
C. Lead Acid Batteries
Lead acid battery recycling is discussed on pages 11-13 of the
Work Plan. The HHW Committee reports that lead acid batteries, like
latex paints, are probably most effectively handled by providing a
series of centralized drop-off points. (Work Plan, page 12 . ) Again,
the County could probably best assist in meeting lead acid battery
recycling objectives by appropriately conditioning transfer station
land use entitlements and/or franchises .
D. Land Use Condition recommended by HHW Committee.
The land use permit condition for solid waste transfer stations
recommended by the HHW Committee (copy attached as Exhibit B) appears
sufficiently broad and flexible to enable the County to assist in
achieving the objectives recommended by the Committee.
E. AB 888 and AB 939
Assembly Bill 888 (Stats . 1989, ch. 809 ) requires the County and
each city to prepare a household hazardous waste plan identifying a
program for the safe collection, recycling and disposal of HHW.
(Gov.Code, § 66780 . 5 . ) The program is to be implemented by cities
within their incorporated boundaries and by the County in the
unincorporated area. (Gov.Code, § 66798 . 2(a) . ) The cost of
implementing the program may be recouped by increasing solid waste
collection fees . (Gov.Code, 5 66798 .5 . )
Mechanically, AB 888 provides that the household hazardous waste
plan be an attachment to the county solid waste management plan.
However, as discussed below, county solid waste management plans will
not be required after December 31, 1989 .
Assembly Bill 939 (Stats . 1989 , ch. 1095 ) significantly changes
Internal Operations Committee -4- January 3 ,1990
solid waste laws by repealing the statutes requiring preparation of
county solid waste management plans, and requiring preparation of a
new "countywide integrated waste management plan. " (Pub.Res .Code,
41750 . ) As part of the plan, cities and the County must prepare for
implementation within their respective jurisdictions, household
hazardous waste programs . (Pub.Res .Codes, §S 41280, 41480 . ) AB 939
gives local agencies broad authority to impose and collect fees to
fund preparation and implementation of a countywide integrated waste
management plan, including the household hazardous waste element.
(Pub.Res .Code, S 41901 . )
There are a few technical differences between AB 888 and AB 939 ,
which we anticipate will be dealt with in subsequent clean-up
legislation. However, the Legislature has clearly voiced its intent
to require local agencies to manage household hazardous waste. In
this regard, the work of the Board and the HHW Committee is extremely
timely.
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A:\ltf\memo\phase-l.io
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1
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HEW) PROGRAM
WORK PLAN FOR PHASE I IMPLEMENTATION
DRAFT - AUGUST 21, 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
HEW 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 .
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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
USED 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 ail 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 the 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.
LATEX 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
s '
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 1%.
ESTIMATED 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.
9
LOCAL NEEDS AND RESOURCES:
At this time, the Pleasant Hill Bay Shore Disposal Company, offers
the only drop-off 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.
10
* 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.
12
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.
12
-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
13
Contra Costa County
RECEIVED
JAN 0 4 1590
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMISSION
. SOLID WASTE COMMISSION Office
e0U^'y Administrator
JOINT COMMITTEE ON HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
January 4, 1990
TO: Internal Operations Committee
FROM: Joint Committee on Household Hazardous Waste
SUBJECT: Status Report on Used Oil Collection Plans
This report is a follow-up to the discussion of proper disposal
methods for used oil by the Internal Operations Committee at their
meeting of October 23 , 1989. It is a subject which the Joint
Committee on Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) has focused its
efforts on in implementing the first phase of its HHW plan.
1. Labeling Legislation. A resolution in support of HR 2648, the
Consumer Products Recovery Act, was requested at the October 23rd
IO Committee meeting, a draft -of which is attached to this report.
Purpose of Legislation: This legislation, amending the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, will accomplish two things: (1) All oil containers
would be required to state: "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- - " (2) The bill will also increase the market for used
oil by requiring manufacturers or importers of lubricating oil
either to recycle used oil themselves, to buy recycled oil directly
from the re-refiners , or to purchase credits from recyclers or re-
refiners of used oil. The amount of used oil required to be
recycled would increase by two percentage points every year for ten
years. We currently recycle about 30% of used oil; this bill would
increase that figure to about 500.
It should be noted that the labeling requirement in HR 2648 is
virtually identical to AB 1570 (Chapter 1226) , the state
legislation which is going into effect 1/1/90.
2. Marina Used Oil Collection. The attached letter from a boat
owner, sent to a number of elected officials in the County,
highlights the need for providing proper disposal options for used
oil at marinas. There are 62 marinas in the county, with over
11 ,000 berths .for 33 , 902 boat owners. Marinas with over 200 berths
were invited to the December 5, 1989 Used Oil Implementation
Workshop; half, attended. They were .very open about their concern
about improper disposal. The San Francisco. Bay Conservation and
concerned about the extent of city involvement in these training
opportunities (only four cities attended: El Cerrito, Martinez,
Orinda and Pinole) . The HHW Committee will be strategizing on how
to better involve cities at the January 5 HHW Committee meeting.
5. Progress towards Implementing the HHW Plan. The HHW
Committee' s accomplishments to date. include:
o Provided two trainings on implementing the HHW plan:
Overall need & action plan (October 13 )
Used Oil Implementation Workshop (December 5)
o Finalized the HHW workplan which provides an ambitious
workplan for action
o Researched field for effective program models & solutions
o Provided for continuous involvement of franchisors and
franchisees in the planning and implementation process
In the near future the following tasks will be accomplished:
o Incentive program for service station collection network
o Workshop for marina operators to plan for collection of
used oil (January 11)
It should be noted that the county cannot require implementation
of the HHW workplan by franchisors and franchisees. The HHW
Committee is able to provide training and resources, while the
implementation of the action items is the responsibility of the
franchisors.
6. Future Actions to Implement the HHW Plan. At its January 5
meeting, the Committee will .be deciding on work plans for the first
six months of 1990. To be considered are:
a. Strategies to encourage cities and other franchisors to
join the efforts in providing HHW collection programs.
b. Collection program ideas for programs which are
reimbursable under AB 2448.
C. Ways to increase public understanding of the problem and
public demand for HHW programs;
d. Implementation of a service station collection network
to collect used oil using approved incentive option.
Also to be addressed by the committee (not at January 5 meeting) :
e. Promotion of businesses buying back car batteries
f . Long-term funding for HHW planning and public education
efforts (AB 2448 does provide some monies for public
education activities, but not for planning and working
with cities) .
PP_
r
Development Commission (BCDC) in its concern for oil contamination
of the Bay, has done a study of the subject, but received little
response from marinas--possibly due to their fear of BCDC
regulating them.
To follow up with their concerns regarding improper used oil
disposal, 25 marinas and two marina associations have:=been invited
to a special workshop on January 11, 1990. The purpose of this
workshop, sponsored by the HHW Committee, is two-fold: ( 1) To
involve marina operators in defining, from their perspectives, the
problems of used oil collection; and ( 2) To identify effective
solutions which marina operators can, following the workshop,
proceed to implement. Staff from the Public and Environmental
Health Divisions, from Evergreen Oil, and from BCDC will be present
as resource people.
3. Service Station Collection Network. The HHW Committee prefers
to concentrate its efforts on providing permanent solutions to HHW,
with some members being concerned that implementing such a
collection network would sidetrack efforts to create these
permanent solutions. They realize the need, however, for more
immediate solutions, and believe the service station network will
provide convenient drop-off points for consumers. Such a network
may well be part of the permanent solution as well.
Accepting used oil from the public for free is a costly proposition
for service stations. Therefore, several incentive options for
them to participate were explored. After consulting with
Environmental Health Division director. and staff, the option chosen
to recommend is the elimination of generator fees paid by a service
station (approximately $90 annually) . This would be in exchange
for the service station agreeing to accept at least 30 gallons of
used oil from the public for free each week. If a service station .
had to pay pick-up costs for 30 gallons of used oil each week, it
would cost $390 annually. ' If 75 service stations participated in
this network (about four stations per city) , $6750 less would be
collected in generator fees.
The service station collection network will be discussed at the
January 5, 1990 meeting of the HHW committee. Bruce Hatakeda, the
president of the Automobile Service Councils, Chapter 16, has also
been invited to provide the perspective of service stations. An
update on this will be provided at the January 8 , 1990 IO Committee
meeting.
4 . Update on December 5 , 1989 Used Oil Implementation Workshop.
The second workshop was also well attended, with about half of the
franchisees, franchisors and invited marinas attending. Contents
of presentations included used oil regulation, logistics of having
oil picked up by Evergreen, land used planning considerations, and
experiences of communities running curbside and collection center
programs. Given that cities will be responsible for developing a
HHW component in their source reduction and recycling elements
(newly mandated by the signing of AB 939 ) , the HHW Committee is